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.
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–present. 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