US Popularity Rank: 3614

Origin: Irish

Meaning: Star of the sea; Bitterness; Beloved; Wished for child; Moor; Dark-skinned

Maura is a girl’s name with Irish origins. The anglicized form of Máire, inspired by the Latin and Hebrew Mary, Maura adopts the meaning “star of the sea” from the title given to the Virgin Mary. Etymologically speaking, Mary derives from Miriam and means "bitterness," "beloved," and "wished for child." Maura is also considered the feminine form of Maurus, a Greek name that means "Moor" or "dark-skinned," which used to refer to those from Mauritania. The name Maura is easy on the tongue and has grown in popularity in recent years. Whether you want to pay homage to your Irish roots, honor your faith, or nod to African heritage, Maura is a gorgeous name for any future star.