Maureen

Meaning of Maureen

Maureen is an Anglicized rendering of the Irish feminine name Máirín, itself a diminutive of Máire—the Gaelic form of Mary—and etymologically rooted in the Hebrew Miryam through Greek and Latin intermediaries; the diminutive suffix –ín conveys the sense of “little Mary” or “beloved.” In English (pronounced maw-REEN, /mɔˈriːn/), the name achieved its apex of popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century—consistently ranking within the top 100 from the 1940s through the 1960s—before transitioning to a more specialized usage, most recently placed 923rd in the Social Security Administration’s 2024 listings. Maureen is associated with qualities of timeless elegance and steadfast devotion, a resonance reinforced by its appearance among literary characters and cultural figures; within onomastic studies, it is frequently cited as an exemplar of the modern revival of Gaelic diminutives. Its balanced phonological structure and storied heritage render it a choice that bridges traditional continuity and contemporary refinement.