What María means
María is a girl name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved, or bitter sea". It comes from Hebrew Miryam (beloved, or bitter sea, or rebellious; disputed). It is pronounced mah-REE-ah.
The most common female name in Mexico's population, usually as the first half of a compound (María Guadalupe, María Fernanda). Etymology disputed; Egyptian mry (beloved) is the leading theory.
About this meaning. The etymology is uncertain or disputed. The reading above is the best-supported one; popular baby-name sites often give a more romantic gloss that the dictionaries do not confirm.
Nicknames in Mexico: Mari, Maruca, Mary. Maruca and Maruja are older Spanish hypocoristics; Mari is the modern shortening. See the guide to Mexican nicknames.
Popularity: one of the most common names in Mexico. See the current top names.
