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Maura

Girl name · 57 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Maura: 57 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 6 births in 2025.

Maura is the Irish and Scottish Gaelic form of Mary, ultimately derived from the Hebrew name Miriam, whose meaning is debated but often interpreted as "bitter," "beloved," or "wished-for child." The name gained literary prominence through the 1959 novel *Maura* by the Scottish author Naomi Mitchison. Perhaps the most famous bearer is the American actress Maura Tierney, best known for her roles in *ER* and *The Affair*. In Ireland, Maura was the name of the mother of the great Irish poet and Nobel laureate Seamus Heaney. The name has a softer, more lyrical feel than the English Mary, and has enjoyed steady if modest use in Scotland, particularly in the latter half of the 20th century, where it remains a gentle but classic choice.