Maria
məˈriːə
noun
Origin
Hebrew
מִרְיָם (Miryām) — The exact etymology is debated; commonly interpreted as 'bitterness', 'beloved', or 'rebellious'.
Overview
Meaning Now
- A feminine given name of Hebrew origin, widely used in Christian cultures as the Latin form of Mary.
- A term used in planetary science to describe large, dark, basaltic plains on the Moon, formed by ancient volcanic eruptions.
Literal older meaning
Beloved, rebellious, or bitter
Language path
Hebrew → Aramaic → Greek → Latin → English
Earliest form
Μαρία (María)
Earliest period
1st century
Journey
The name 'Maria' gained significant prominence through the veneration of the Virgin Mary in Christian tradition. In the context of lunar geography, the term 'maria' (plural of 'mare') was coined by early astronomers who mistook these dark, flat regions for literal seas.
Evolution
- Biblical Hebrew
Miryām
“Proper name”
- Koine Greek
Mariam/Maria
“Proper name”
- Late Latin
Maria
“Proper name”
Standardized Latin form.
- Middle English
Marie
“Proper name”
- Modern English
Maria
“Proper name”
Connections
Related words
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Related to Maria
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.