Maura
Maura is a girl's name of Irish origin.
Meaning
Star of the sea, wished-for child, or beloved (as an Irish form of Mary).
Origin and history
Maura is an anglicized form of the Irish name Máire, which itself derives from Mary. It has a long history of use in Ireland and spread to the English-speaking world, including the United States, in the 20th century. While it experienced peak usage in the mid-to-late 20th century, it remains a recognized classic name today.
Popularity in the United States
19,965 babies in the United States have been named Maura since 1880. It ranks #1067 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1437.
States where it is most popular
- NY (17.6 %)
- PA (16.1 %)
- MA (15.5 %)
- CA (8.4 %)
- IL (7.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 5 |
| 1910-1920 | 43 |
| 1920-1930 | 125 |
| 1930-1940 | 212 |
| 1940-1950 | 532 |
| 1950-1960 | 2,069 |
| 1960-1970 | 3,651 |
| 1970-1980 | 2,176 |
| 1980-1990 | 2,693 |
| 1990-2000 | 3,263 |
| 2000-2010 | 2,903 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,618 |
| 2020-2029 | 675 |
Famous people named Maura
- Maura Tierney: Actress
- Maura Higgins: Television personality, Model
- Maura West: Actress
Fun facts
- Maura developed as an Anglicization of Máire, the Irish equivalent of Mary.
- In American English, Maura is often pronounced to rhyme with the more common name Laura.