maria

Maria is a female given name widely used across Europe, the Americas, and beyond. It is the Latin form of Mary, ultimately derived from the Hebrew name Miriam. The form Maria is used in many languages, including Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, German, and Scandinavian languages, both as a standalone name and in compound names such as Maria Teresa.

In Christian tradition, the name is associated with Mary, the mother of Jesus, contributing to its enduring popularity.

Notable people with the name include soprano Maria Callas, tennis player Maria Sharapova, educator Maria Montessori, and the nun and author Maria von Trapp.

In popular culture, Maria is the title character in the musical West Side Story, whose song Maria is well known.

In astronomy, maria (plural of mare) are large dark plains on the Moon; the term comes from Latin for seas.