The Irish word "mavourneen" (sometimes spelled mavoureen, mavournein) comes from the Irish Gaelic phrase "mo mhuirnín", which means "my darling" or "my beloved.

It's a term of endearment, often used in songs, poetry, and romantic or affectionate speech. During the 18th and 19th centuries, especially in Irish-American communities, "mavourneen" became a poetic or sentimental way to refer to a loved one—similar to "sweetheart" or "dearest" in English.

"Come back to Erin, mavourneen, mavourneen"
— from the traditional Irish song Come Back to Erin

My father was from Bell Island, Newfoundland and grew up speaking some Irish although most of the language had been lost. He called me Maureen Mavoureen, or Maureen my darling, as a term of endearment and I named my pottery business as homage to my father.