Given name & surname · also Celtic
Maura
“moor”·“dark, swarthy”
In Italian and Spanish use, Maura is a feminine form of Mauro. Interpretations include “moor” (Latin) and “dark, swarthy” (Latin). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
In Italian and Spanish use, Maura is a feminine form of Mauro. Interpretations include “moor” (Latin) and “dark, swarthy” (Latin). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
This spelling has been associated with Celtic and Latin naming traditions.
How it developed
Maura is a feminine form of Mauro.
The story
Its Christian associations include Saint Maura, a 5th-century martyr, of whom very little is known.
Maura through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 19,970
- 5 boys · 19,965 girls
- Most popular year
- 1964
- 430 babies
- 2025
- 127
- #1,640 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −26%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 127 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,640 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 25.6% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 430 in 1964. In 2025, Pennsylvania had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (16). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 23,594 as a first name in 2020; 589 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Maura’s family of names
Maura is a feminine form of Mauro. In English usage, Maura has a related form in Mary. Maura has a related form in Maureen.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Maura has relatives in 4 languages. Lines run from its Latin roots to each of them.
5 related names in 4 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 10
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Mariaequivalent
- Mauromasculine form
- Moiradoublet · English
- Maurineequivalent
- Maurinaequivalent
- Mavrarelated form
- Mareenequivalent
- ΜαύραGreek
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People named Maura
- Maura TierneyAmerican actressborn 1965
- Maura Healey73rd governor of Massachusetts (born 1971)
- Maura TombelliItalian astronomerborn 1952
- Maura WestAmerican actressborn 1972
- Maura ViceconteItalian marathon runner (1967-2019)
- Maura DelperoItalian filmmakerborn 1975
- Maura VisserDutch handball playerborn 1985
- Maura FurlottiItalian association football playerborn 1957
- Maura MontiItalian-Mexican actress and model (born 1942)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Maura, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Mulhall
“descendant of the devotee of (Saint) Cathal”
—
Malarky
“descendant of the devotee of (Saint) Earc”
—
Mulkey
“descendant of the devotee of (Saint) Cathach”
—
Mcaleer
“son of the servant of (Saint) Odhar”
—
Mcaloon
“son of the servant of (Saint) John”
—
Mullaney
“descendant of the devotee of (Saint) Seanach”
>99% girls
Mulberry
“descendant of the devotee of (Saint) Bearach”
—
Attracta
“a virtuous woman; a saint”
>99% girls