How to say it
ma · RI · ah
məˈraɪ.ə
Feminine
Mariah
Drop of the sea; beloved
What it means
A variant of Maria and Mary, carrying the same roots: 'drop of the sea,' 'beloved,' or 'bitter.'
Mariah is a spelling of Maria pronounced the old English way, muh-RYE-uh, as in the song They Call the Wind Maria. It shares Mary's roots, with meanings offered as 'drop of the sea,' 'beloved,' and 'bitter.' Singer Mariah Carey made the spelling a household name. Warm and a little vintage.
How to spell Mariah
The standard spelling is Mariah. Common variants include Maria, Moriah, Maryah, but Mariah is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #62 in 1998, currently #448 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pronunciation
muh-RY-uh, the older English form of Maria.
- Pop culture
Singer Mariah Carey.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Mariah Carey record-breaking American singer and songwriter
Spelling variants
- Maria
- Moriah
- Maryah
Names with the same feeling
See Mariah from another angle
By meaning
Common questions
- What does the name Mariah mean?
- A variant of Maria and Mary, carrying the same roots: 'drop of the sea,' 'beloved,' or 'bitter.'
- What does Mariah mean in Hebrew?
- In Hebrew, Mariah means "Drop of the sea; beloved." Mariah is a spelling of Maria pronounced the old English way, muh-RYE-uh, as in the song They Call the Wind Maria. It shares Mary's roots, with meanings offered as 'drop of the sea,' 'beloved,' and 'bitter.' Singer Mariah Carey made the spelling a household name. Warm and a little vintage.
- How do you pronounce Mariah?
- Mariah is pronounced məˈraɪ.ə. Say it as ma-RI-ah, with the stress on the "ri" syllable.
- How do you spell Mariah?
- The standard spelling is Mariah. Common spelling variants include Maria, Moriah, Maryah.
- Is Mariah a boy or girl name?
- Mariah is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Mariah?
- Mariah ranked #448 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.