Maurice first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Maurice has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Maurice

A masculine name of Latin origin meaning "dark-skinned" or "Moor".

Popularity of Maurice by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Maurice is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Maurice being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 225 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Maurice.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 225 0
2022 221 0
2021 286 0
2020 268 0
2019 328 0
2018 377 0
2017 395 0
2016 406 0
2015 435 0
2014 480 0
2013 504 0
2012 531 0
2011 578 0
2010 599 0
2009 638 0
2008 733 0
2007 707 0
2006 761 0
2005 661 0
2004 712 0
2003 757 0
2002 697 0
2001 717 0
2000 795 0
1999 734 0
1998 832 0
1997 827 0
1996 809 0
1995 888 5
1994 932 8
1993 1,111 5
1992 1,164 7
1991 1,301 7
1990 1,488 13
1989 1,422 12
1988 1,493 20
1987 1,472 31
1986 1,510 14
1985 1,559 25
1984 1,591 17
1983 1,684 19
1982 1,646 22
1981 1,643 16
1980 1,554 26
1979 1,593 25
1978 1,575 20
1977 1,440 28
1976 1,347 30
1975 1,384 18
1974 1,374 25

The history of the first name Maurice

The name Maurice has its origins in the Roman Empire, deriving from the Latin name Mauritius. The name itself is a derivative of the word 'Maurus', which means 'Moorish' or 'dark-skinned'. It is believed that the name was initially given to individuals of Moorish or North African descent during the Roman era.

The earliest recorded use of the name Maurice can be traced back to the 3rd century AD, when it was borne by a Christian martyr named Maurice, who was a leader of the Theban Legion. This legion, composed of Christian soldiers from Upper Egypt, was executed for refusing to renounce their faith under the orders of the Roman Emperor Maximian.

In the Middle Ages, the name Maurice gained popularity across Europe, particularly in France and England. One of the most notable figures to bear this name was Maurice, the Byzantine Emperor who ruled from 582 to 602 AD. He is credited with reforming the Byzantine military and stabilizing the empire's finances.

During the Renaissance period, the name Maurice continued to be widely used. One of the most renowned individuals with this name was Maurice of Nassau (1567-1625), a Dutch prince and military commander who played a crucial role in the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule.

In the 17th century, the name gained further prominence with figures like Maurice, Prince of Orange (1620-1679), a Dutch stadtholder and military leader who led the Dutch Republic to victory against England and France.

Other notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Maurice include Maurice Ravel (1875-1937), a French composer known for his orchestral works and ballets, and Maurice Maeterlinck (1862-1949), a Belgian playwright and poet who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1911.

Overall, the name Maurice has a rich history spanning from ancient Roman times to the present day, with its roots in Latin and associations with notable figures in various fields, including religion, military, literature, and music.

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 Maurice was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Maurice first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/maurice-meaning-and-history/.

"Maurice first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/maurice-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Maurice first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/maurice-meaning-and-history/.

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.