National Maria Day is celebrated annually on May 8. It’s a day to honor anyone and everyone named Maria. Maria is the feminine form of the Roman name Marius. It also has roots in the Hebrew language, where it means ‘bitter’ or ‘rebellious,’ and is derived from Maryam or Mariam. Following Christianity’s dissemination across the Roman Empire, Maria became the Latinized form of Mary, the name of the mother of Jesus. Other forms of the name include Mariah, Marie, Marija, and Mariya.
History of National Maria Day
The name Maria has been popular since the 1800s. While predominantly used as a female name, there are some male Marias, most of them born in the 1980s. The name isn’t linked to a particular country because of its Christian origins, so it’s used in every country with a large Christian population. Maria is America’s 18th most popular name, with an estimated population of 1,711,118.According to 100 years’ worth of data from the U.S. Social Security Administration (S.S.A.), Maria is used as a female name, primarily as a first name, 99% of the time. In addition, there are 536.64 Marias for every 100,000 Americans. Most people (66.7%) sharing the name are Hispanic, while others are White (26.3%), Black (2.7%), Asian or Pacific Islander (2.8%), mixed race (0.4%), and American Indian or Alaskan Native (0.4%). As such, you’re more likely to meet a Hispanic person named Maria than a White one with the same name.In the U.S., California has the most residents — 514,594, to be exact — named Maria. It’s also the state where you are most likely to meet one because 1326.19 out of every 100,000 Californians bear the name.
National Maria Day timeline
Maria I of Portugal begins her reign as the first undisputed Queen of Portugal.
Carey wins her first Grammy Award for ‘Best New Artist.’
Carlos Santana releases the hit song ‘Maria Maria.’
Renowned Russian tennis player Sharapova takes the world number one female tennis player ranking for the first time.
National Maria Day FAQs
How many Grammy awards does Mariah Carey have?
Carey has won five Grammy Awards.
Did Maria Sharapova complete the Career Grand Slam?
After winning the French Open in 2012, she became the 10th woman in tennis history to win all four Grand Slam titles.
When did Maria Sharapova retire?
Sharapova retired from tennis in 2020.
National Maria Day Activities
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Wish a Maria well
Do you know a Maria? Wish them a happy National Maria Day! A genuine greeting goes a long way.
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Befriend a Maria
Is there a Maria in your class or office that you don’t know very well? Today is the perfect day to befriend them! You can bond over the new facts you’ve learned about the name.
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Spread awareness
Spread awareness about the day’s significance. Post about it on social media and greet the Marias on your friends’ list.
5 Facts About Mariah Carey
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Her name was inspired by music
Carey’s name was taken from ‘They Call the Wind Maria,’ a song from the musical “Paint Your Wagon.”
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She has a five-octave vocal range
She has an impressive five-octave range, and her song ‘Emotions’ showcases four of the eight octaves.
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She has a camp named after her
The Fresh Air Fund named its Career Awareness Program camp ‘Camp Mariah’ to commemorate her joining their board of directors in 1994.
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Patti LaBelle is her godmother
Carey asked the famous singer to be her godmother, and LaBelle agreed.
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Her dogs are living the life
She spends thousands of dollars annually on spa treatments for her eight dogs and flies them by private jet to a five-star “canine vacation” at the luxury Paw Seasons doggy hotel in Bristol.
Why We Love National Maria Day
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It inspires Marias to appreciate their name
On National Maria Day, Marias learn more about their famous namesakes. It helps them to appreciate and be proud of their name.
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It promotes variations of Maria
National Maria Day calls attention to Maria and all its variants. There are more than 50 variations just waiting to be discovered!
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Every Maria is celebrated
Everyone named Maria is celebrated on this day. Their friends and family get to celebrate them however they want to.
National Maria Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | May 8 | Monday |
| 2024 | May 8 | Wednesday |
| 2025 | May 8 | Thursday |
| 2026 | May 8 | Friday |
| 2027 | May 8 | Saturday |
