'Almeria' originates from Arabic, specifically the name 'al-Mariyya' (المرية), where 'al-' is the Arabic definite article and 'Mariyya' referred to the place name.

'Almeria' came into medieval Romance/Spanish from the Arabic 'al-Mariyya' during the period of Al-Andalus, and over time the name evolved into the modern Spanish form 'Almería'.

Initially it referred to the locality known by the Arabic name (often interpreted as a place name related to a watchtower or coastal settlement), and it has remained as the proper name for the modern city of Almería.