Maria written in the Greek script, with pronunciation, a letter-by-letter breakdown, and the story behind the name.
Each Greek letter below maps to part of the name.
Maria is the Latin form of the Hebrew name Miriam (מִרְיָם), whose original meaning is debated — proposals include "beloved," "wished-for child," and "drop of the sea." Through Mary, mother of Jesus, it became one of the most widespread names on earth.
Μαρία has long been the single most common female name in Greece — a legacy of Orthodox naming tradition, where children are named for grandparents and saints. Its name day, the Dormition of the Theotokos on August 15, is one of the biggest celebration days in the Greek calendar.
Maria is written Μαρία: mu (Μ), alpha (α), rho (ρ), iota with a stress mark (ί), and alpha (α). The stress falls on the i — mah-REE-ah — and the tonos over the ί marks it, as Greek spelling requires.
It is the most common female name in Greece. Orthodox naming customs pass names from grandparents to grandchildren, which has kept Μαρία at the top for generations. Its name day on August 15 is celebrated so widely it functions almost as a national holiday.
Each variant gets its own Greek spelling: Mary is usually rendered Μαίρη (MEH-ree) and Marie as Μαρί (mah-REE). They are treated as related but distinct names — a Greek Μαρία might use Μαίρη as an informal, anglicized nickname.