Maria Eduarda is the female protagonist of several Portuguese books and songs. Just see "Os Maias" by Eça de Queirós or the song called "Maria da Fonte". In Portugal it is also very common to use religious middle names with it like Maria das Dores, Maria da Luz or Maria dos Prazeres. Ana Maria is also a very common combo.

Maria is the most common name in Malta. For many Maltese it is considered to be the most beautiful name!

Also a feminine name in Slovenia, but not nearly as popular as MARIJA.

Maria is the commonest girl's name in Greece. Although it may sound natural, believe me, it is way too overused. There are 4 girls with this name and its combinations in my class.

Maria can be used as a masculine middle name also in Italian, for example, Gian Maria. [noted -ed]

Yes, in Spanish as well this name is used as a male or female middle name. In example: Jose MARIA, just like Jose is sometimes used as a female middle name: Maria JOSE.

This should be probably listed under Spanish as well.

I really like this name, it's gorgeous, but I can't use it because my child would probably be teased for having such an ethnic name, whilst I am Caucasian. ]:

In Portugal, up to the 80's most women had double names, one of them being Maria. This happened because the Virgin was crowned Queen of Portugal in 1640, and the country consecrated to her. A new crown was made, and since that time, Portuguese kings and queens could not be portrayed wearing the crown, since the Virgin is the eternal queen of Portugal. The name Maria, in women, reflects that dedication. That changed during the 80's when the country ceased to have an official state religion.

The name Maria is also commonly used in Georgia. It is not as common there as Mariam is, but still very common nonetheless.

In Georgian, Maria is written as: მარია.

This name is also used in Afrikaans.

I like this name as a middle name for males, like in Carlo Maria or Antonio Maria.

Here in Brazil it was very common to make religious combos with Maria, like Maria do Perpétuo Socorro (the infinite helping), das Dores (of the Pains), da Anunciação (of the Annunciation).

Another German diminutive is Mariechen (sometimes, but rarely, also used as an official name).

The name is also used in Iceland.

My grandpa was a Swede adopted by an Italian couple; his first name was Maria. So, I'm gonna assume this was probably a "rare" case in which the name Maria was used as an actual first name for a male.

Can be a feminine form of Marius, Mario (Spanish/Italian/Portuguese), Marios (Greek) and Mariusz (Polish).

Used in Czech Republic for males.