Macaria
Of Greek origin meaning "blessed, happy, blissful, prosperous".
Name Census estimates that about 269 living Americans carry the first name Macaria. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Macaria today is around 26 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Macaria births was 2006 (22 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Macaria. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
269
~ 1 in 1,274,180 Americans
Peak year
2006
22 babies that year
Average age
26
years old
2022 SSA rank
#14,621
Tracked since 1914
Popularity
Macaria: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Macaria from the 1910s through to the 2020s, spanning 11 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 95 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Macaria by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Macaria during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Macarias live
Origin
Meaning and history of Macaria
Macaria is a feminine given name with roots tracing back to ancient Greek language and culture. The name is derived from the Greek word "makarios," which means "blessed" or "happy." It is believed to have originated sometime around the 5th or 4th century BCE, during the classical period of ancient Greek civilization.
The name Macaria is associated with a figure from Greek mythology, specifically the daughter of Heracles (Hercules in Roman mythology). According to the legends, Macaria willingly sacrificed herself to ensure the victory of the Athenians during a war against the Argives. Her act of selflessness was celebrated, and she was revered as a symbol of patriotism and bravery.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Macaria can be found in the works of ancient Greek tragedians, such as Euripides and Sophocles, who incorporated the mythological figure into their plays. Additionally, the name appears in various historical records and inscriptions from the ancient Greek world, attesting to its usage during that time period.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Macaria. One of the earliest was Macaria of Thessaly (c. 340 BCE), a renowned philosopher and mathematician from ancient Greece. Another notable figure was Macaria of Alexandria (c. 270-330 CE), a Christian martyr and saint who was executed during the reign of the Roman emperor Maximinus II.
In the Middle Ages, Macaria of Antioch (c. 920-1005) was a Byzantine abbess and saint, known for her piety and devotion to the Christian faith. During the Renaissance period, Macaria Bradburne (c. 1480-1552) was an English nun and educator who played a significant role in the establishment of educational institutions for women.
Moving into more recent history, Macaria Favalli (1879-1957) was an Italian painter and sculptor, renowned for her works depicting religious subjects and landscapes. She was a prominent figure in the Italian art scene of the early 20th century.
It is worth noting that while the name Macaria has been used throughout history, it has never been among the most popular given names in any particular region or culture. Nevertheless, its rich historical and cultural significance, rooted in ancient Greek mythology and philosophy, has ensured its enduring presence as a unique and meaningful choice for a given name.
People
Macaria + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Macaria as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Macaria: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Macaria?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 269 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Macaria going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,274,180 US residents.
Is Macaria a common name?
We classify Macaria as "Very Rare". It ranks above 78% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 377 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Macaria most popular?
The single biggest year for Macaria was 2006, when 22 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Macaria is about 26 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Macaria a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Macaria in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.