Female Polish given name · 2698 births in 2024 (rank 10)
/ˈmar.ja/ · MAR-yah
Maria is the Latin form of a name with Hebrew roots, known from both the Old and New Testaments. Its meaning is interpreted in several ways — most often as "beloved", "lady" or "star of the sea" — and in Polish tradition it is inseparably linked with the Virgin Mary.
The name derives from the Hebrew Miriam, taken into Greek and Latin as Maria. Through Marian devotion it became one of the most important and frequently given names in Catholic Poland, used both on its own and as a middle name. Out of reverence for the Mother of God it was once regarded as an especially dignified name.
The source is the Hebrew מִרְיָם (Miriam) of uncertain meaning; connections have been proposed with words for "bitterness", "beloved" or "lady". The form Maria is its Greek-Latin counterpart.
| Nominative | Maria |
| Genitive | Marii |
| Dative | Marii |
| Accusative | Marię |
| Instrumental | Marią |
| Locative | Marii |
| Vocative | Mario |
In Poland, Maria celebrates its name day on 24 May, 15 August, 8 September, 12 September.
Marysia, Maryśka, Marysieńka, Mania, Maja, Marylka.
Equivalents in other languages include Mary and Marie (English, French), María (Spanish, Italian), Marija (Croatian, Lithuanian) and Mariya (Russian, Ukrainian).
Maria has for generations remained one of the most frequently given Polish female names and is still very popular.