Maria (Mary) - Names
Meaning of the name Maria (Mary)
Gender:
Female
Meaning:
wished-for child (from Hebrew),
pearl (from Hebrew),
beloved lady (from Egyptian).
History & etymology:
Maria and Mary are the names of two separate origins, which at some point merged into one because of their similarity. They are used interchangeably nowadays, although Mary is the usual English spelling. The name has been used in England since the 12th century.
Maria is the name of Roman origin. It is a feminine form of Marius, which in turn was derived from Mars, the Roman god of war, or the Latin root maris, which means male.
Mary is an originally Egyptian name (from mry - beloved) adopted into Greek, then Hebrew and finally introduced to European countries via the Bible. Several biblical characters bear the name Mary but the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus is the most notable of them.
St. Mary, known by various titles, is often honored with a special cult as the holiest of all Saints. She is believed to have never sinned in her entire life as the one chosen to give birth to God’s Son. Her life and deeds are described in the Old Testament.
Mary was a Jewish woman from Nazareth, betrothed to St. Joseph. She is famous for her immaculate conception and giving birth to Jesus in a stable, where she and the baby were visited by the Three Wise Men of the East.
Information about her life at the time of Jesus’s childhood and adolescence is scarce. She is mentioned on the occasions of her Son’s deeds such as turning water into wine at Cana.
The Bible sheds more light on St. Mary’s life from the crucifixion of Jesus on. She is often depicted as one of several people who stood by the cross. St. Mary holding her Son’s body is a famous motif in art called ‘pieta’ or ‘pity’.
Upon her death, she was assumed (taken together with her body, as opposed to ascended) into Heaven. Her assumption is believed to have taken place on 15th August.
Alternative spellings & related names:
Marie, Mariah, Maralyn, Marilynn, Marylyn, Maree, Merrilyn, Marion, Mariel, Marianne
Diminutives: Mae, Mamie
Similar names in other languages & name day:
Finland
2nd July: Maaria, Mari, Maria, Meeri
3rd December: Meri
France
15th August: Marie
Germany
1st January: Maria
Greece
15th August, 21st November: Mary
Poland
23rd January, 2nd February, 11th February, 25th March, 14th April, 26th April, 28th April, 3rd May, 24th May, 2nd June, 2nd July, 29th July, 2nd August, 4th August, 5th August, 15th August, 22nd August, 8th September, 12th September, 15th September, 24th September, 7th October, 11th October, 16th November, 21st November, 8th December, 10th December: Maria
Russia
19th January, 8th February, 19th February, 31st march, 15th April, 20th June, 22nd June, 4th August: Maria
Spain
17th January: Mariana
4th August, 15th August, 12th September, 16th October, 24th October: María
Sweden
28th February: Maria
USA
8th September: Maria, Marie, Mary
Famous people named Maria/Marie/Mary:
Marie Antoinette (1775 - 1793) - Queen of France
Mariah Buzolin Oliveira (1991-) - Brazilian actress
Mariah Carrey (1969-) - American singer and songwriter
Marie Curie-Skłodowska (1867 - 1934) - Polish-French scientist
Maria Doyle Kennedy (1964-) - Irish actress and singer
Marie de’Medici (1575 - 16412) - Queen Consort of France
Maria Montessori (1870 - 1952) - Italian physician and educator
Maria Laina (1947-) - Greek poet
Maria Petrou (1953 - 2012) - Greek-British scientist
Maria Santos (1978-) - Portuguese swimmer her museum of
Maria Sharapova (1987-) - Russian tennis player
Mary Tudor (1516 - 1726) - Queen of England and Spain
Marie Tussand (1761 - 1850) - French artist known for her museum of wax figures
Mary Stuart (1542 - 1587) - Queen of Scotland
Maria Yamamoto (1981-) - Japanese voice actress and singer
Fun facts:
Popularity (2015):
USA: 109th
England and Wales: 73rd
Canada: 90th (2013)
Ireland: 54th
Scotland: 93rd
New Zealand: 39th
Lucky colors: yellow, green
Lucky stone: Tanzanite
Ruling planet: Uranus
Characteristics: talented, intelligent, ambitious, practical, adaptable, resourceful
Maria is sometimes used as a masculine middle name.