Maricela Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: mah-ree-SEH-lah /mɑːɹiˈsɛlə/
Origin: Spanish; Latin
Meaning: Spanish: Little Mary; Latin: Sea of Bitterness
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Maricela has its roots in Spanish, deriving from the combination of the names Maria and Celia. Maria itself is of Hebrew origin, stemming from the name Miriam, which is believed to mean "sea of bitterness," "rebelliousness," or "wished for child." The name Maria was adopted into Greek as Maria and later into Latin as Maria, becoming a widely used name in Christian contexts due to its association with the Virgin Mary.
Celia, on the other hand, has Latin origins, derived from the word "caelum," meaning "heaven" or "sky." The fusion of these two names into Maricela reflects a common practice in Spanish naming traditions, where names are often blended to create new forms with personal or familial significance. Historically, the name Maria has been prominent in various cultures, particularly within Christianity, where it has been borne by numerous saints and biblical figures.
The name Celia also has a rich history, associated with saints and noble figures throughout the Middle Ages. The combination of these names into Maricela likely gained traction in the 20th century as a reflection of cultural identity among Spanish-speaking populations, particularly in regions influenced by Hispanic heritage.
Culturally, Maricela embodies a blend of religious and familial significance, often symbolizing purity and devotion through its connection to Maria, while also evoking a sense of celestial beauty through its link to Celia. This duality may contribute to the name's resonance within families, as it encapsulates both earthly and spiritual qualities.
The diminutive form "Mari" is sometimes used affectionately, highlighting the name's versatility and warmth in personal relationships.
Famous people named Maricela
In this section, you will find notable people named Maricela. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Maricela who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Maricela who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Maricela is a singer best known for her work in the Latin music genre and her albums such as 'Maricela' and 'La Reina de la Salsa'.
Maricela is a television personality best known for her appearances on reality shows and her role in 'La Casa de los Famosos'.
Maricela is an actress best known for her roles in telenovelas such as 'La Usurpadora' and 'Amor Real'.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Maricela, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Maricela. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Maricela was first seen in the United States in 1944.
Maricela has ranked as high as #698 nationally, which occurred in 1977, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Illinois, Arizona, and Florida.
In the past 5 years the name Maricela has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Maricela is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Maricela was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Maricela (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 10 | |
| TX | 7 | |
| AZ | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Maricela.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 53 |
| 2023 | 61 |
| 2022 | 48 |
| 2021 | 47 |
| 2020 | 48 |
| 2019 | 48 |
| 2018 | 66 |
| 2017 | 60 |
| 2016 | 75 |
| 2015 | 57 |
| 2014 | 75 |
| 2013 | 77 |
| 2012 | 94 |
| 2011 | 90 |
| 2010 | 95 |
| 2009 | 132 |
| 2008 | 125 |
| 2007 | 157 |
| 2006 | 173 |
| 2005 | 142 |
| 2004 | 160 |
| 2003 | 146 |
| 2002 | 160 |
| 2001 | 170 |
| 2000 | 178 |
| 1999 | 222 |
| 1998 | 228 |
| 1997 | 210 |
| 1996 | 249 |
| 1995 | 218 |
| 1994 | 262 |
| 1993 | 246 |
| 1992 | 318 |
| 1991 | 328 |
| 1990 | 399 |
| 1989 | 331 |
| 1988 | 325 |
| 1987 | 313 |
| 1986 | 332 |
| 1985 | 323 |
| 1984 | 220 |
| 1983 | 207 |
| 1982 | 251 |
| 1981 | 278 |
| 1980 | 328 |
| 1979 | 360 |
| 1978 | 425 |
| 1977 | 437 |
| 1976 | 405 |
| 1975 | 291 |
| 1974 | 291 |
| 1973 | 265 |
| 1972 | 232 |
| 1971 | 211 |
| 1970 | 166 |
| 1969 | 183 |
| 1968 | 139 |
| 1967 | 159 |
| 1966 | 122 |
| 1965 | 137 |
| 1964 | 118 |
| 1963 | 126 |
| 1962 | 93 |
| 1961 | 84 |
| 1960 | 90 |
| 1959 | 55 |
| 1958 | 58 |
| 1957 | 49 |
| 1956 | 51 |
| 1955 | 53 |
| 1954 | 44 |
| 1953 | 48 |
| 1952 | 32 |
| 1951 | 34 |
| 1950 | 28 |
| 1949 | 35 |
| 1948 | 15 |
| 1947 | 16 |
| 1946 | 13 |
| 1945 | 12 |
| 1944 | 10 |