Mariah is an English form of Maria, pronounced with a long i, and shares Mary's uncertain meaning, usually given as "beloved", "sea of bitterness" or "wished-for child". The spelling was rare until Mariah Carey's debut in 1990 turned it into one of the hottest names of that decade. Mariah ranked number 75 in 2000, its best year, and has declined steadily since, standing at number 448 in 2025.