Emma Girl
EH-muh
“whole, universal” · Germanic
#3
Maureen
GirlIrish· “little Mary, from Irish Mairin”
- Meaning
- little Mary, from Irish Mairin
- Origin
- Irish
- Pronunciation
- maw-REEN
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #4,424
- US babies 2025
- 32
- Best rank
- #88 (1948)
- Peak year
- 1957
Meaning and origin of Maureen
Maureen is an Irish name that means “little Mary, from Irish Mairin”.
Maureen is the anglicized form of Irish Máirín, a pet form of Máire, the Irish version of Mary. The name therefore carries the long history of Mary, whose Hebrew source Miriam is of debated meaning, while the -ín ending adds the sense of "little." It spread beyond Ireland in the early twentieth century and became closely associated with Irish identity abroad. The actress Maureen O'Hara brought it international glamour on screen. It is usually said maw-REEN, though some families put the stress on the first syllable. Mo and Reenie are the familiar short forms, and related names include Maura, Moira and Mairead.
Popularity over time
Maureen first appears in US Social Security records in 1896. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 88 different years, starting in 1907. Its best national rank was #88 in 1948, and the most babies received it in 1957, when 4,596 were named Maureen. In 2025, 32 babies were named Maureen, and it ranked #4,424 nationally. That is 26% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #704 in 1920, #89 in 1950, #280 in 1980, #1,228 in 2000, #3,607 in 2010, and #4,424 in 2025. Of the 144,276 US girls named Maureen since records began, 30% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1960s come next, with 34,449 babies. Since 2010, 672 more have been named Maureen.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Sheryl, Anita, Patti, Leslie, and Marianne.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Maureen ranked highest in New York.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New York | #2297 | 5 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Maureen is usually pronounced maw-REEN, with two syllables. It has seven letters, starts with M and ends in “-en”.
Middle names for Maureen
A few middle names that flow with Maureen: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Maureen
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Lists that include Maureen
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Maureen mean?
Maureen is an Irish name that means “little Mary, from Irish Mairin”.
What is the origin of the name Maureen?
Maureen has Irish roots. Maureen is the anglicized form of Irish Máirín, a pet form of Máire, the Irish version of Mary.
Is Maureen a popular name?
Not especially. Maureen ranked #4,424 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Maureen a boy or girl name?
Maureen is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Maureen?
Maureen is usually pronounced maw-REEN. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings