The nameMaureen
Maureen is the anglicised form of an Irish pet name for Mary. It was a top 100 American name in the 1940s.
- Girl's name
- Irish
Meaning
Maureen comes from the Irish Máirín, a pet form of Máire, the Irish form of Mary. It means "little Mary".
Origin
Irish. Maureen is the English spelling of Máirín. Like Mary, it goes back to the Hebrew Miriam, whose meaning is debated.
History
Maureen spread across the English-speaking world in the 20th century and reached 88th place in the United States in 1948. The Irish actress Maureen O'Hara, born in Dublin in 1920 and star of The Quiet Man (1952), made it famous. Tennis player Maureen "Little Mo" Connolly became in 1953 the first woman to win all four Grand Slam titles in the same year. Mo and Reenie are its short forms.
Famous people named Maureen
- Maureen O'Hara, actress
- Maureen Connolly, tennis player
- Maureen Lipman, actress
Popularity of the name Maureen
Maureen in the United States
Maureen was most popular in the United States in the 1950s, with 42,901 births over the decade, 30% of all recorded babies named Maureen. Its rise began around 1930, and it peaked in 1957. Half of all babies named Maureen in the United States were born before 1956, so it is mostly a grandparents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 32 births a year on average, against 44 in the five years before.
Maureen in Ireland
Maureen was most popular in Ireland in the 1970s, with 536 births over the decade, 41% of all recorded babies named Maureen. Half of all babies named Maureen in Ireland were born before 1975, so it is mostly a parents' generation name.
Maureen in France
Maureen in Belgium
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Maureen
Names from the same generation as Maureen, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Maureen? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Maureen with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Maureen side by side with the name of your choice.
Maureen in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Maureen mean?
Maureen comes from the Irish Máirín, a pet form of Máire, the Irish form of Mary. It means "little Mary".
What is the origin of the name Maureen?
Irish. Maureen is the English spelling of Máirín. Like Mary, it goes back to the Hebrew Miriam, whose meaning is debated.
Is Maureen a girl's or a boy's name?
Maureen is a girl's name.
How popular is the name Maureen?
In 2024, Maureen was the 4907th most popular name for baby girls in the United States, with 27 births.
What are the variants of the name Maureen?
Variants and related names of Maureen include Marie and Mary.
What are good sibling names for Maureen?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Dena, Rachelle, Shana and Cathy for a sister, Geoffrey, Nigel, Armand and Kurt for a brother.
Who are famous people named Maureen?
Maureen O'Hara, actress; Maureen Connolly, tennis player; Maureen Lipman, actress.