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Maurice

Boy name · 86 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Maurice: 86 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 11 births in 1974.

Maurice is the English form of the late Roman name Mauricius, itself derived from the Latin *Maurus*, meaning "dark-skinned" or "Moorish," originally referring to an inhabitant of Mauretania in North Africa. The name was borne by several early Christian saints, most notably Saint Maurice, the 3rd-century Roman legionary commander martyred for his faith, who became the patron saint of infantry soldiers and of the Holy Roman Empire. In the 20th century, the name was carried by the French philosopher and writer Maurice Merleau-Ponty, as well as the beloved children's author Maurice Sendak, creator of *Where the Wild Things Are*. The name also appears in the Scottish place-name St. Moritz, which shares the same root. A notable variant is the French Maurice, while the Italian form Maurizio is also common.