Maria is a feminine given name. It is given in many languages influenced by Christianity. It was used as the feminine form of the unrelated Roman name Marius (see Maria gens), and, after Christianity had spread across the Roman Empire, it became the Latinised form of the name of Miriam: Mary, mother of Jesus. Maria (Greek: Μαρία) is a form of the name used in the New Testament, standing alongside Mariam (Μαριάμ). It reflects the Syro-Aramaic name Maryam, which is in turn derived from the Biblica…