boy's name
Maurice
MOR-iss
- Origin Latin
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 2
- Letters 7
- Popularity Uncommon
- Births on record 480,514
Scotland
#311
1991 births
Maurice is a boy's name from a Latin word meaning a Moor, originally describing someone from Roman North Africa. Our data marks it reviving, and it peaked in 1920 — a century-long gap of the same kind we see in Walter and Frances.
- Maurice is a name of Latin origin.
- Peaked in France in 1920, when 10,050 babies were given the name.
- After peaking in the 1920s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival in France.
- Today about 1 in 29,475 babies in France is given this name.
- First appears in birth records in 1900.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 2.
Maurice over time
Births per decade in France, 1900s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, still in progress — it covers 2020 to 2025, not a full ten years.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 54,250 |
| 1910s | 59,595 |
| 1920s | 88,765 |
| 1930s | 64,160 |
| 1940s | 40,050 |
| 1950s | 20,720 |
| 1960s | 7,015 |
| 1970s | 1,605 |
| 1980s | 675 |
| 1990s | 355 |
| 2000s | 205 |
| 2010s | 180 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 140 |
What Maurice means
Maurice means a Moor, or dark-skinned, from a Latin word for the people of Roman Mauretania in North Africa. The name describes origin, and later complexion, rather than any quality of character.
Where Maurice comes from
Maurice comes from the Latin Mauricius, from Maurus — a Moor, a native of Mauretania, the Roman province covering much of modern Morocco and Algeria. The word came to be used more loosely for dark complexion. Saint Maurice, its central bearer, was according to tradition an Egyptian commanding a Roman legion recruited from Thebes, martyred with his men for refusing an order; he was widely venerated across the Holy Roman Empire and is depicted in the Magdeburg Cathedral statue of about 1240 as unmistakably African, one of the earliest such depictions in European art. The name reached England with the Normans and gave the surnames Morris and Fitzmaurice.
Maurice in use
Maurice peaked in 1920, when 10,050 babies were registered in its largest market, and our data marks it reviving. It now ranks 494th in Ireland on 7 births, 1019th in the United States on 220, 1627th in France on 20 and 3094th in England and Wales, across 480,514 lifetime births in five of the seven markets we track. Its peak year places it with Mildred and Harold in the 1918 to 1924 cluster, several of which are recovering together.
How popular is Maurice?
In 2025, Maurice was given to 20 babies in France. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Where Maurice is used
French counts are rounded to the nearest five and nothing below five is published, so these figures show the shape of the name's use rather than an exact tally. Data & sources.
Names that peaked alongside Maurice
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents who like Maurice also like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Maurice over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
2 nicknames for Maurice
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
Maurice in other languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling names for Maurice
Names from the same era that won't rhyme or share an initial with Maurice — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common questions about Maurice
What does the name Maurice mean?
A Moor — from the Latin Maurus, a native of Roman Mauretania in North Africa.
Who was Saint Maurice?
By tradition an Egyptian officer commanding a Roman legion, martyred for refusing an order. The Magdeburg statue of about 1240 depicts him as African.
Is Morris the same name?
Yes — Morris is the English surname form of Maurice.
Is Maurice coming back?
Our data marks it reviving, a century after its 1920 peak.
How popular is the name Maurice?
In 2025, Maurice was given to 20 babies in France. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Is Maurice a girl's or a boy's name?
Maurice is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Maurice?
Maurice has 2 syllables.
When was Maurice most popular?
Maurice peaked in 1920, when 10,050 babies were given the name. After peaking in the 1920s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival.
What are the nicknames for Maurice?
Maurice is usually shortened to Mo and Reece.
Is Maurice a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Maurice currently ranks #494 in France. After peaking in the 1920s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.