Maureen
Maureen is a Christian girl name of Irish origin, meaning “Little Mary”.
| Meaning | Little Mary |
|---|---|
| Gender | Girl |
| Origin | Irish |
| Pronunciation | maw-REEN |
| Tradition | Christian |
| Used in | Ireland, United Kingdom, United States, Australia |
Meaning and origin of Maureen
Maureen is the English spelling of the Irish Máirín, a pet form of Máire, which is the Irish Mary. The -ín ending is an Irish diminutive, so the name is literally 'little Mary'. It spread from Ireland to Britain, America and Australia in the early twentieth century and peaked around the 1930s to 1950s. Well-known bearers include the actress Maureen O'Hara. The 'star of the sea' meaning sometimes given belongs to the older Latin interpretation of Mary, not to Maureen itself.
Is Maureen a Christian name?
Maureen is a Catholic Irish name honouring the Virgin Mary, coming from the Irish form of her name.
How popular is Maureen?
A mid-century favourite that is now rare for newborns.
Gifts with the name Maureen
- Maureen name necklaces & bracelets (Amazon)
- Personalised Maureen baby gifts (Amazon)
- Christian baby gifts & books (Amazon)
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Spellings and variants of Maureen
Names similar to Maureen
More Christian girl names
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Maureen mean?
Maureen means 'Little Mary'. It is of Irish origin.
Is Maureen a Christian name?
Maureen is a Catholic Irish name honouring the Virgin Mary, coming from the Irish form of her name.
How do you pronounce Maureen?
Maureen is pronounced maw-REEN.
Is Maureen a boy or girl name?
Maureen is usually a girl name.