Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Maurice
BoyLatin, French· “Moorish, dark-skinned”
- Meaning
- Moorish, dark-skinned
- Origin
- Latin, French
- Pronunciation
- maw-REES
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,020
- US babies 2025
- 220
- Best rank
- #94 (1914)
- Peak year
- 1921
Meaning and origin of Maurice
Maurice is a Latin and French name that means “Moorish, dark-skinned”.
Maurice comes from the Latin Mauritius, meaning "Moorish" or "from Mauretania", the ancient region of northwest Africa, and so originally suggested someone dark-skinned. Saint Maurice, a Roman soldier from Egypt said to have been martyred with his Theban Legion, became a patron of soldiers and gave his name to places such as Saint-Moritz. The island nation of Mauritius was named after Maurice of Nassau, a Dutch prince. The name came to England with the Normans. Maurice has a debonair, vintage feel, and in Britain it is often pronounced MOR-is. Mo is a friendly nickname.
Popularity over time
Maurice has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 145 different years. Its best national rank was #94 in 1914, and the most babies received it in 1921, when 1,743 were named Maurice. In 2025, 220 babies were named Maurice, and it ranked #1,020 nationally. That is 49% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #102 in 1920, #185 in 1950, #162 in 1980, #345 in 2000, #448 in 2010, and #1,020 in 2025. Of the 136,332 US boys named Maurice since records began, 12% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 1980s come next, with 15,575 babies. Since 2010, 6,116 more have been named Maurice.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Homer, Virgil, Claude, Luther, and Horace.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Maurice ranked highest in Indiana, Maryland, and Michigan.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana | #607 | 11 |
| Maryland | #672 | 7 |
| Michigan | #704 | 11 |
| Florida | #743 | 21 |
| Pennsylvania | #775 | 11 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Maurice is usually pronounced maw-REES, with two syllables. It has seven letters, starts with M and ends in “-ce”.
Middle names for Maurice
A few middle names that flow with Maurice: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Maurice
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Lists that include Maurice
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Maurice mean?
Maurice is a Latin and French name that means “Moorish, dark-skinned”.
What is the origin of the name Maurice?
Maurice has Latin and French roots. Maurice comes from the Latin Mauritius, meaning "Moorish" or "from Mauretania", the ancient region of northwest Africa, and so originally suggested someone dark-skinned.
Is Maurice a popular name?
Not especially. Maurice ranked #1,020 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Maurice a boy or girl name?
Maurice is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Maurice?
Maurice is usually pronounced maw-REES. 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