Maurice

What does Maurice mean?

Maurice comes from Latin Mauritius or Mauricius, formed from Maurus, meaning “North African” or “Moorish.” It has a long history in French and English, with Morris as a closely related English form.

The name's modern cultural associations are especially strong in the arts. Composer Maurice Ravel and author-illustrator Maurice Sendak give it connections with orchestral music and some of the best-known images in children's literature.

From a Latin name to medieval Europe

The name spread partly through devotion to Saint Maurice, traditionally remembered as a third-century Roman soldier from Egypt. In the saint's legend, he and the Christians in his legion were killed after refusing to worship Roman gods.

Maurice was also the name of a sixth-century Byzantine emperor. Later, Maurice of Nassau, known as Maurits in Dutch, became an important figure in the establishment of the Dutch Republic.

The name has been used in England since the Norman Conquest, often written Morris or Moris. That history gives Maurice a much older English presence than its French appearance alone might suggest.

Maurice Ravel and Boléro

French composer Maurice Ravel gives the name an enduring musical association. His Boléro premiered as a ballet at the Paris Opéra in November 1928, with dancer Ida Rubinstein in the central role.

The music grows from a repeated rhythmic pattern and recurring melody, gradually increasing in volume as different instruments take it up. The changing orchestration turns a deliberately simple plan into an increasingly powerful orchestral effect.

Ravel conceived the piece after an earlier plan to arrange music by Isaac Albéniz could not proceed because another composer held the orchestration rights. The resulting work became one of his most recognizable compositions.

Maurice Sendak and picture books

Maurice Sendak gives the name a very different artistic connection. His picture book Where the Wild Things Are won the 1964 Caldecott Medal, an award recognizing distinguished American picture-book illustration.

The story follows Max, who is sent to bed after misbehaving and imagines a world of Wild Things, where he becomes their king. Sendak's images make the creatures and their unruly celebration central to the book's lasting appeal.

The combination of storytelling and illustration made his full name familiar to generations of families. Maurice therefore has a particularly recognizable place on children's bookshelves as well as in concert programs.

Pronunciation and related names

American English commonly uses maw-REES or muh-REES, with stress on the second syllable. British English also uses MOR-iss, the sound associated with the spelling Morris.

French Maurice is broadly moh-REES, with a French r. Morris is the closest English variant, while Maurits, Mauricio, and Maurizio belong to the wider European name family.

Maurice in the United States

Maurice reached its best American boys' rank, No. 94, in 1914. Its largest annual count came in 1921, with 1,743 babies. It ranked No. 617 in 2015 and No. 1,020 in 2025, placing its strongest American period in the early twentieth century.

How popular is Maurice?

In 2025, Maurice ranked #1,020 among boys in the United States, with 220 recorded uses. The U.S. birth records first list this spelling for boys in 1880; its largest annual count was 1,743 in 1921. Rankings count each spelling separately. They describe national use, so local familiarity can differ. The popularity chart shows whether the name has remained common, returned after a quieter period, or risen recently.