Find out how popular the first name Marites has been for the last 12 years (from 1974 to 1985) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Marites by gender

Based on the last 12 years of data, Marites is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 1985, there were 5 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Marites.

The history of the first name Marites

The name Marites originates from the Spanish language and culture. It is a feminine name derived from the Spanish name María, which itself is derived from the ancient Hebrew name Miryam. Miryam is believed to be a combination of the Hebrew words "mar" meaning bitter and "yam" meaning sea, possibly referring to the bitter suffering endured by the Virgin Mary.

The name María has been widely used throughout the Christian world since the early days of Christianity, as it is the name of the mother of Jesus Christ in the New Testament. The name Marites is a diminutive or pet form of María, created by adding the Spanish diminutive suffix "-ites" to the root name.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Marites can be found in the 16th century Spanish literature, where it was used as a character name. However, it is important to note that the name was likely in use much earlier, as diminutive forms of names were commonly used in everyday speech.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Marites. One of the earliest was Marites de Aragón, a Spanish noblewoman and courtier who lived in the 15th century and served as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Isabella I of Castile.

In the 19th century, Marites de la Paz Mendoza was a prominent Filipino educator and women's rights advocate who founded one of the first schools for girls in the Philippines.

Marites Conchita Cámara was a Spanish operatic soprano who achieved international fame in the early 20th century, performing in prestigious venues such as the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.

Marites Danguilan Vitug is a contemporary Filipino journalist and author, known for her investigative reporting and books on Philippine politics and governance.

More recently, Marites Flor was a prominent Filipino chess player who represented the Philippines in numerous international tournaments and won several national championships in the late 20th century.

While the name Marites is primarily associated with Spanish and Filipino cultures, it has also been used in other parts of the world, particularly in Latin American countries with strong Spanish influences. However, its roots can be traced back to the ancient Hebrew name Miryam and its journey through the Christian tradition.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Marites was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Marites, please contact us.

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