Irish girl name
Maureen Name Meaning, Origin & Pronunciation
Maureen means little mary (debated). Anglicised from Irish Máirín, a diminutive of Máire.
Maureen comes from the Irish Máirín, a small or pet form of Máire, the Irish form of Mary. It was very common in Ireland and in Irish communities abroad in the early and middle twentieth century. The name Mary itself has an uncertain origin, with bitter and beloved among the meanings proposed. Máirín is pronounced mah-REEN, and the English version has the same stress on the last syllable. The actress Maureen O'Hara helped to make it known worldwide.
Pronunciation by a native speaker.
How to pronounce Maureen
mor·EEN
Maureen has 2 syllables. The stress falls on the second syllable (shown in bold). Say it as written in the respelling, with each capitalised part spoken a little louder.
Variants of Maureen
MaureneMoreenMaurineMáirín
A well-known Maureen
Maureen O'Hara.
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Maureen mean?
Maureen means "little mary (debated)". Anglicised from Irish Máirín, a diminutive of Máire.
How do you pronounce Maureen?
Maureen is pronounced mor-EEN.
What is the origin of Maureen?
Maureen is an Irish girl name. In Irish it is written Máirín.
How many syllables are in Maureen?
Maureen has 2 syllables, with the stress on the second one.
What are other spellings of Maureen?
Other spellings and forms include Maurene, Moreen, Maurine, Máirín.