Holding steady.
Popularity of Maricel since 1960
Babies named Maricel per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 43 |
| 1970s | 106 |
| 1980s | 134 |
| 1990s | 115 |
| 2000s | 62 |
| 2010s | 5 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Maricel first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1960, a modern coinage that blends Maria with Celia or Celeste. Its popularity peaked in 1990, during a decade (1990s) when compound names ending in -el or -cel were fashionable, but it never broke into the top 1000. The trajectory has remained stable since the early 2000s, with no recent surge. As a combination of classic elements, Maricel carries connotations of the sea and the heavens without being tied to a single culture. It has no recorded top states, indicating widespread but infrequent use across the U.S.
Maricel is a modern compound name combining Maria (Latin for 'star of the sea', from Hebrew origin) and Celia (from Latin caelum 'heaven') or Celeste ('heavenly'). It gained modest use in Spanish-speaking communities and the Philippines starting in the mid-20th century.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mari, Celi, Mar
Sibling names for Maricel
Names that share Maricel's style, for a brother or sister.
