Maura Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: MAW-rah //ˈmɔːrə//
Origin: Irish; Latin
Meaning: Irish: 'star of the sea'; Latin: 'bitter'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Maura has its roots in the Latin name 'Maura', which is derived from 'maurus', meaning 'dark-skinned' or 'black'. This Latin term itself traces back to the Greek word 'mauros', which carries a similar meaning.
The name was adopted into various languages and cultures, eventually making its way into English through the influence of Latin during the Roman Empire and the subsequent spread of Christianity, where Latin was the liturgical language. Historically, the name Maura has been associated with several notable figures, particularly in the context of early Christian saints.
One of the most prominent is Saint Maura, a 4th-century martyr who is venerated in both the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions. Her legacy contributed to the name's adoption in Christian communities, especially in regions influenced by the Latin Church.
The name also appears in various historical texts and translations, including the Vulgate, the Latin translation of the Bible completed in the late 4th century, which helped disseminate Christian names throughout Europe. Culturally, the name Maura has been linked to themes of strength and resilience, often associated with the dark-haired or dark-skinned attributes implied by its etymology.
This connection has allowed the name to endure across generations, particularly in regions where Latin and its derivatives have had a lasting impact. Additionally, diminutive forms such as 'Molly' or 'Maureen' have emerged in various cultures, reflecting the name's adaptability and continued relevance in different linguistic contexts.
Famous people named Maura
In this section, you will find notable people named Maura. 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 Maura who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Maura 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.
Maura Tierney is an actress best known for ER, The Affair, and Rescue Me.
Maura Sullivan is a biologist best known for her work in marine ecology and conservation.
Fictional characters named Maura
The following list of fictional characters named Maura is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Maura Isles is a fictional character from the book series and TV show Rizzoli & Isles. She is a medical examiner who often assists her friend, Detective Jane Rizzoli, in solving crimes.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Maura, 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 Maura. 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 Maura was first seen in the United States in 1903.
Maura has ranked as high as #841 nationally, which occurred in 1964, and has been most popular in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, California, and Illinois.
In the past 5 years the name Maura has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Maura 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 Maura 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 Maura.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 127 | 0 | 127 |
| 2024 | 111 | 0 | 111 |
| 2023 | 99 | 0 | 99 |
| 2022 | 117 | 0 | 117 |
| 2021 | 90 | 0 | 90 |
| 2020 | 131 | 0 | 131 |
| 2019 | 132 | 0 | 132 |
| 2018 | 136 | 0 | 136 |
| 2017 | 189 | 0 | 189 |
| 2016 | 143 | 0 | 143 |
| 2015 | 154 | 0 | 154 |
| 2014 | 161 | 0 | 161 |
| 2013 | 152 | 0 | 152 |
| 2012 | 177 | 0 | 177 |
| 2011 | 181 | 0 | 181 |
| 2010 | 193 | 0 | 193 |
| 2009 | 195 | 0 | 195 |
| 2008 | 215 | 0 | 215 |
| 2007 | 231 | 0 | 231 |
| 2006 | 289 | 0 | 289 |
| 2005 | 318 | 0 | 318 |
| 2004 | 358 | 0 | 358 |
| 2003 | 317 | 0 | 317 |
| 2002 | 300 | 0 | 300 |
| 2001 | 372 | 0 | 372 |
| 2000 | 308 | 0 | 308 |
| 1999 | 310 | 0 | 310 |
| 1998 | 335 | 0 | 335 |
| 1997 | 361 | 0 | 361 |
| 1996 | 310 | 0 | 310 |
| 1995 | 303 | 0 | 303 |
| 1994 | 297 | 0 | 297 |
| 1993 | 311 | 0 | 311 |
| 1992 | 313 | 0 | 313 |
| 1991 | 374 | 0 | 374 |
| 1990 | 349 | 0 | 349 |
| 1989 | 347 | 0 | 347 |
| 1988 | 317 | 0 | 317 |
| 1987 | 271 | 0 | 271 |
| 1986 | 273 | 0 | 273 |
| 1985 | 267 | 0 | 267 |
| 1984 | 222 | 0 | 222 |
| 1983 | 248 | 0 | 248 |
| 1982 | 285 | 5 | 280 |
| 1981 | 236 | 0 | 236 |
| 1980 | 232 | 0 | 232 |
| 1979 | 229 | 0 | 229 |
| 1978 | 190 | 0 | 190 |
| 1977 | 194 | 0 | 194 |
| 1976 | 194 | 0 | 194 |
| 1975 | 174 | 0 | 174 |
| 1974 | 206 | 0 | 206 |
| 1973 | 216 | 0 | 216 |
| 1972 | 240 | 0 | 240 |
| 1971 | 262 | 0 | 262 |
| 1970 | 271 | 0 | 271 |
| 1969 | 325 | 0 | 325 |
| 1968 | 346 | 0 | 346 |
| 1967 | 337 | 0 | 337 |
| 1966 | 348 | 0 | 348 |
| 1965 | 385 | 0 | 385 |
| 1964 | 430 | 0 | 430 |
| 1963 | 418 | 0 | 418 |
| 1962 | 364 | 0 | 364 |
| 1961 | 366 | 0 | 366 |
| 1960 | 332 | 0 | 332 |
| 1959 | 311 | 0 | 311 |
| 1958 | 293 | 0 | 293 |
| 1957 | 288 | 0 | 288 |
| 1956 | 249 | 0 | 249 |
| 1955 | 218 | 0 | 218 |
| 1954 | 208 | 0 | 208 |
| 1953 | 140 | 0 | 140 |
| 1952 | 161 | 0 | 161 |
| 1951 | 121 | 0 | 121 |
| 1950 | 80 | 0 | 80 |
| 1949 | 92 | 0 | 92 |
| 1948 | 99 | 0 | 99 |
| 1947 | 65 | 0 | 65 |
| 1946 | 57 | 0 | 57 |
| 1945 | 43 | 0 | 43 |
| 1944 | 42 | 0 | 42 |
| 1943 | 37 | 0 | 37 |
| 1942 | 32 | 0 | 32 |
| 1941 | 35 | 0 | 35 |
| 1940 | 30 | 0 | 30 |
| 1939 | 24 | 0 | 24 |
| 1938 | 25 | 0 | 25 |
| 1937 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| 1936 | 20 | 0 | 20 |
| 1935 | 32 | 0 | 32 |
| 1934 | 24 | 0 | 24 |
| 1933 | 22 | 0 | 22 |
| 1932 | 22 | 0 | 22 |
| 1931 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 1930 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 1929 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1928 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1927 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1926 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1925 | 19 | 0 | 19 |
| 1924 | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| 1923 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1922 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1921 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 1920 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| 1919 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1918 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1917 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1916 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1915 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1913 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1912 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1903 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Top States for Maura (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 |
|---|---|---|
| PA | 22 | |
| TX | 10 | |
| NY | 8 | |
| IN | 6 | |
| TN | 5 | |
| FL | 5 |