Maricela Girl

Popularity: #884 · Trend: ↗ Rising

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 #825 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.

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 Total Births Boy Girl
2025 64 0 64
2024 53 0 53
2023 61 0 61
2022 48 0 48
2021 47 0 47
2020 48 0 48
2019 48 0 48
2018 66 0 66
2017 60 0 60
2016 75 0 75
2015 57 0 57
2014 75 0 75
2013 77 0 77
2012 94 0 94
2011 90 0 90
2010 95 0 95
2009 132 0 132
2008 125 0 125
2007 157 0 157
2006 173 0 173
2005 142 0 142
2004 160 0 160
2003 146 0 146
2002 160 0 160
2001 170 0 170
2000 178 0 178
1999 222 0 222
1998 228 0 228
1997 210 0 210
1996 249 0 249
1995 218 0 218
1994 262 0 262
1993 246 0 246
1992 318 0 318
1991 328 0 328
1990 404 5 399
1989 331 0 331
1988 333 8 325
1987 313 0 313
1986 341 9 332
1985 323 0 323
1984 225 5 220
1983 213 6 207
1982 256 5 251
1981 278 0 278
1980 334 6 328
1979 367 7 360
1978 430 5 425
1977 437 0 437
1976 405 0 405
1975 291 0 291
1974 291 0 291
1973 265 0 265
1972 232 0 232
1971 211 0 211
1970 166 0 166
1969 183 0 183
1968 139 0 139
1967 159 0 159
1966 122 0 122
1965 137 0 137
1964 118 0 118
1963 126 0 126
1962 94 0 94
1961 84 0 84
1960 90 0 90
1959 55 0 55
1958 58 0 58
1957 49 0 49
1956 51 0 51
1955 53 0 53
1954 44 0 44
1953 48 0 48
1952 32 0 32
1951 34 0 34
1950 28 0 28
1949 35 0 35
1948 15 0 15
1947 16 0 16
1946 13 0 13
1945 12 0 12
1944 10 0 10

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. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 10
45%
TX 7
32%
AZ 5
23%