Discover given name insights instantly.

Uncover the origin, popularity, and more for any first name.

Name Origin

Maurice is a masculine given name of Latin origin, meaning 'dark-skinned' or 'Moorish'. It derives from the Late Latin name Mauricius, which itself came from the Roman term for inhabitants of Mauretania, an ancient region in North Africa.

latinmasculinemoorishmauretania

Famous People

Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)

Composer, Pianist, Conductor

  • Known for his musical impressionism
  • Composed famous works like Boléro and Daphnis et Chloe

Maurice Wilkins (1916-2004)

Biophysicist, Nobel Laureate

  • Key contributor to the discovery of DNA's double helix structure
  • Shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962

Maurice Sendak (1928-2012)

Illustrator, Author, Children's Literature

  • Created beloved children's books like Where the Wild Things Are
  • Won numerous awards for his illustrations and storytelling