Sophia Rodriguez

By Sophia Rodriguez
Cultural Naming Expert

Updated on September 04, 2024

Mauricio

US Popularity Rank: 1362

Origin: Latin

Meaning: moor; dark-skinned

Hailed from the Roman Mauritius, Mauricio is a Spanish masculine name informed by rich history. Originating as the Late Latin Maurus, Mauricio means "dark-skinned" or "moor," capturing a time when such a name was used to denote a Northern African Muslim. Specific to the Berber population, Mauricio speaks of an era when the Iberian Peninsula—modern Spain and Portugal—was under Muslim rule. This area, named al-Andalus, became known as a flourishing economic and cultural center where education and art thrived. While the Moorish rule eventually came to an end, the cultural legacy of this 800-year period still remains—all wrapped up in the simple name Mauricio.