Maria Paula is a feminine given name of Spanish origin. It is composed of two elements: "Maria", which is a Latin form of the Hebrew name Miriam, meaning "sea of bitterness" or "rebelliousness"; and "Paula", derived from the Latin word "paulus", meaning "small" or "humble".
The name Maria Paula has been popular in Spain and Spanish-speaking countries for centuries. It gained prominence during the Middle Ages when it was often given to girls born into Catholic families, as a way of honoring the Virgin Mary (Maria) and Saint Paul (Paulo).
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne this name. One of the most famous is Maria Paula de Braganza (1864-1943), who was a Portuguese princess and the wife of King Carlos I of Portugal.
Today, Maria Paula continues to be a popular choice for parents in Spain and Latin America, as well as among communities with Spanish or Latino heritage elsewhere in the world. It is often associated with warmth, elegance, and rich cultural traditions.
The name Mariapaula has seen a varied trend of popularity in the United States over the past two decades, with a total of 161 babies given this name since the year 2000.
In the early years of the new millennium, the name was fairly consistent in its usage, with six births each year in both 2000 and 2001. There was then a slight decrease to five births in 2003 before steadily climbing back up to seven births in 2004.
The name Mariapaula reached its peak popularity in the United States in recent years, with a notable spike occurring in 2021 when twelve babies were named Mariapaula. This is significantly higher than the previous peak of ten births in both 2009 and 2016.
Interestingly, there was also another significant peak in 2019, with eleven babies being given this name that year. However, these recent years of high popularity are still not enough to mask the overall trend of fluctuation in the usage of the name Mariapaula over time.
While it may not be one of the most popular names in the United States, the name Mariapaula does seem to have a certain degree of appeal to some parents looking for something unique and distinctive. With its varied history of popularity over the past two decades, there is plenty of room for this name to continue evolving and changing in future years.