Maritza is a Spanish name, usually explained as an elaboration of Maria, "beloved" or "star of the sea", though some link it to the Maritsa River in the Balkans. It is especially popular in the Caribbean, Central America and among Mexican Americans. In the United States Maritza was a top 500 name for decades, peaking at number 403 in 2005, before slipping out of the top 1000 in 2010 and down to number 2846 in 2025.