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Mary Name Origin: Latin
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Pronunciation: mair-ee
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See what 18 people think about Mary
Mary Name Meaning
The meaning of Mary is “bitter” or “wished-for child” but it’s mostly associated with the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus in Christian tradition. The name Mary is often associated with motherhood, purity, and devotion. It’s a name that evokes the feeling of warmth and kindness.
Origins of the Name Mary
The name Mary is of Hebrew origin, and it is derived from the Hebrew name Miriam, which means “bitter” or “wished-for child.” It is also associated with the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus in Christian tradition.
Popularity of the Name Mary
Mary has been a popular name for centuries and has been borne by many notable figures throughout history. Some of the most famous Marys include:
- The Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus in Christian tradition
- Queen Mary I of England, also known as “Bloody Mary”
- Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein
- Mary Wollstonecraft, a British writer, philosopher, and advocate of women’s rights
In recent years, the name Mary has seen a steady popularity and it’s become a favorite for parents looking for a strong, classic and elegant name that has a historical significance and cultural significance.
Final Thoughts on the Name Mary
Mary is classic, elegant, and has a rich history. Plus, there are so many amazing people throughout history who have been named Mary, which just goes to show how powerful and accomplished the name can be. It’s also a name that has a great cultural and religious significance.
In conclusion, Mary is a name with a rich history and a beautiful meaning. It has been borne by many notable figures throughout history and has seen a steady popularity in recent years. Mary is a name that is sure to be a favorite for parents looking for a strong, classic and elegant name for their little one.
Infographic of Mary name meaning, which is Derived from the Hebrew Miryam, Mary means of the sea or bitterness.
Ask your friends & family about Mary…
Mary Name Popularity
How popular is the name Mary? Here’s everything we know.
| Year |
Rank |
# Births |
% Births |
| 1910 |
1 |
22,848 |
6.4893% |
| 1911 |
1 |
24,390 |
6.5497% |
| 1912 |
1 |
32,304 |
6.4058% |
| 1913 |
1 |
36,642 |
6.4627% |
| 1914 |
1 |
45,345 |
6.5066% |
| 1915 |
1 |
58,187 |
6.4044% |
| 1916 |
1 |
61,438 |
6.3601% |
| 1917 |
1 |
64,281 |
6.4253% |
| 1918 |
1 |
67,366 |
6.2769% |
| 1919 |
1 |
65,841 |
6.2878% |
| 1920 |
1 |
70,980 |
6.3838% |
| 1921 |
1 |
73,982 |
6.4609% |
| 1922 |
1 |
72,175 |
6.4784% |
| 1923 |
1 |
71,635 |
6.3958% |
| 1924 |
1 |
73,532 |
6.3321% |
| 1925 |
1 |
70,597 |
6.246% |
| 1926 |
1 |
67,829 |
6.167% |
| 1927 |
1 |
70,637 |
6.3814% |
| 1928 |
1 |
66,869 |
6.2496% |
| 1929 |
1 |
63,510 |
6.1315% |
| 1930 |
1 |
64,146 |
6.1409% |
| 1931 |
1 |
60,296 |
6.1091% |
| 1932 |
1 |
59,872 |
6.0602% |
| 1933 |
1 |
55,507 |
5.9579% |
| 1934 |
1 |
56,924 |
5.8885% |
| 1935 |
1 |
55,065 |
5.6664% |
| 1936 |
1 |
54,373 |
5.6446% |
| 1937 |
1 |
55,642 |
5.6467% |
| 1938 |
1 |
56,214 |
5.4911% |
| 1939 |
1 |
54,903 |
5.3974% |
| 1940 |
1 |
56,201 |
5.2875% |
| 1941 |
1 |
58,040 |
5.1569% |
| 1942 |
1 |
63,249 |
5.0088% |
| 1943 |
1 |
66,169 |
5.0685% |
| 1944 |
1 |
62,466 |
5.0401% |
| 1945 |
1 |
59,284 |
4.861% |
| 1946 |
1 |
67,468 |
4.5723% |
| 1947 |
2 |
71,688 |
4.2946% |
| 1948 |
2 |
68,596 |
4.297% |
| 1949 |
2 |
66,862 |
4.1564% |
| 1950 |
2 |
65,482 |
4.0669% |
| 1951 |
2 |
65,726 |
3.8765% |
| 1952 |
2 |
65,639 |
3.7603% |
| 1953 |
1 |
64,372 |
3.6372% |
| 1954 |
1 |
68,005 |
3.7202% |
| 1955 |
1 |
63,162 |
3.4339% |
| 1956 |
1 |
61,750 |
3.2694% |
| 1957 |
1 |
61,092 |
3.1748% |
| 1958 |
1 |
55,853 |
2.9553% |
| 1959 |
1 |
54,477 |
2.8673% |
| 1960 |
1 |
51,474 |
2.7167% |
| 1961 |
1 |
47,676 |
2.5253% |
| 1962 |
2 |
43,488 |
2.3688% |
| 1963 |
2 |
41,550 |
2.3147% |
| 1964 |
2 |
40,989 |
2.3286% |
| 1965 |
2 |
34,272 |
2.0957% |
| 1966 |
3 |
28,886 |
1.8501% |
| 1967 |
4 |
25,318 |
1.6683% |
| 1968 |
6 |
21,722 |
1.4466% |
| 1969 |
8 |
19,851 |
1.2885% |
| 1970 |
9 |
19,206 |
1.2069% |
| 1971 |
9 |
16,697 |
1.1111% |
| 1972 |
13 |
13,760 |
1.0103% |
| 1973 |
14 |
12,318 |
0.9501% |
| 1974 |
13 |
11,738 |
0.9031% |
| 1975 |
19 |
10,968 |
0.8535% |
| 1976 |
22 |
10,318 |
0.8006% |
| 1977 |
21 |
10,659 |
0.7908% |
| 1978 |
24 |
10,044 |
0.7471% |
| 1979 |
24 |
10,559 |
0.7488% |
| 1980 |
25 |
11,475 |
0.7848% |
| 1981 |
27 |
11,043 |
0.7512% |
| 1982 |
30 |
10,855 |
0.7264% |
| 1983 |
32 |
9,896 |
0.6706% |
| 1984 |
33 |
9,289 |
0.6244% |
| 1985 |
35 |
9,244 |
0.609% |
| 1986 |
37 |
8,506 |
0.5635% |
| 1987 |
37 |
8,395 |
0.5501% |
| 1988 |
34 |
8,510 |
0.5461% |
| 1989 |
38 |
8,644 |
0.5357% |
| 1990 |
35 |
8,666 |
0.5228% |
| 1991 |
38 |
8,760 |
0.5374% |
| 1992 |
36 |
8,458 |
0.5299% |
| 1993 |
37 |
8,115 |
0.5205% |
| 1994 |
37 |
7,747 |
0.5048% |
| 1995 |
40 |
7,452 |
0.4945% |
| 1996 |
44 |
6,956 |
0.4646% |
| 1997 |
46 |
6,632 |
0.4484% |
| 1998 |
45 |
6,443 |
0.4305% |
| 1999 |
45 |
6,372 |
0.4255% |
| 2000 |
46 |
6,192 |
0.4053% |
| 2001 |
49 |
5,729 |
0.3802% |
| 2002 |
51 |
5,457 |
0.3641% |
| 2003 |
59 |
5,010 |
0.3293% |
| 2004 |
62 |
4,806 |
0.3153% |
| 2005 |
72 |
4,448 |
0.2909% |
| 2006 |
80 |
4,081 |
0.2606% |
| 2007 |
93 |
3,671 |
0.2327% |
| 2008 |
96 |
3,492 |
0.2259% |
| 2009 |
102 |
3,154 |
0.211% |
| 2010 |
109 |
2,859 |
0.1984% |
| 2011 |
112 |
2,686 |
0.1885% |
| 2012 |
121 |
2,562 |
0.1798% |
| 2013 |
120 |
2,633 |
0.1849% |
| 2014 |
119 |
2,627 |
0.1803% |
| 2015 |
123 |
2,614 |
0.1797% |
| 2016 |
126 |
2,485 |
0.1724% |
| 2017 |
124 |
2,371 |
0.1699% |
| 2018 |
124 |
2,309 |
0.1681% |
| 2019 |
123 |
2,198 |
0.1624% |
| 2020 |
123 |
2,153 |
0.1691% |
| 2021 |
132 |
1,951 |
0.1596% |
| 2022 |
137 |
2,075 |
0.1573% |
| 2023 |
134 |
2,065 |
0.1596% |
District of Columbia (DC)
Data via SSA.gov.
Names Like Mary
If you like Mary, you’ll love these other names like Mary.
What names are diminutives of Mary?
A diminutive is a name that’s like Mary sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Mary, but shorter.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Mae
|
The fifth month
|
English
|
|
|
|
Marea
|
A variant form of Marina.
|
|
|
|
|
Mari
|
Sea of bitterness
|
Welsh
|
|
|
|
May
|
The fifth month
|
English
|
|
|
|
Min
|
Quick; people
|
Asian
|
|
|
|
Minnie
|
A variant form of Mary.
|
English
|
|
|
|
Moll
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Molly
|
Of the sea
|
English
|
|
|
|
Poll
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Polly
|
A diminutive form or nickname for Mary.
|
Latin
|
|
|
What names are variants of Mary?
Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Mary.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Mair
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Maire
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Mal
|
Smooth brow; star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Malia
|
Of the sea
|
Polynesian
|
|
|
|
Mallie
|
Star of the sea; sweet
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Mame
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Mamie
|
A variant form of Mary.
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Manette
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Manon
|
A French short form of Marion or Alary.
|
French
|
|
|
|
Manya
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Mara
|
Bitter
|
Hebrew
|
|
|
|
Marabel
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Marabelle
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Mare
|
|
Irish
|
|
|
|
Maree
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Marella
|
Shining sea; star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Marelle
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Maren
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Maretta
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Marette
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Maria
|
Of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Mariam
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Marian
|
A variant form, through the Old French, of Mary.
|
French
|
|
|
|
Mariana
|
Of the sea
|
Spanish
|
|
|
|
Mariann
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Marianna
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Marianne
|
A combined form of Mary and Anne, Anne here representing, it is believed, the mother of the Virgin Mary.
|
French
|
|
|
|
Marice
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Maridel
|
Star of the sea
|
Welsh
|
|
|
|
Marie
|
A French form of Mary.
|
French
|
|
|
|
Mariel
|
Drop of these; bitter; beloved
|
Danish, French
|
|
|
|
Mariela
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Mariella
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Marielle
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Marietta
|
An Italian diminutive form of Mary.
|
French
|
|
|
|
Mariette
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Marilee
|
Star of the sea
|
Welsh
|
|
|
|
Marilin
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Marilla
|
Shining sea
|
|
|
|
|
Marilyn
|
“Tempestuous Mary,” from Mary and the Anglo-Saxon hlynn, a torrent.
|
Modern
|
|
|
|
Marin
|
Of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Marion
|
A variant form, through the French, of Mary.
|
French
|
|
|
|
Mariquilla
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Mariquita
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Mariska
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Marita
|
Star of the sea
|
Welsh
|
|
|
|
Maritsa
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Maritza
|
Of the sea; star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Marja
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Marysa
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Maryse
|
Of the sea; star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Marysia
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Masha
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Maura
|
“The maid from Mauretania,” the land of the Moors, in allusion to their swarthiness, from the Greek mauros, dark.
|
Irish
|
|
|
|
Maure
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Maureen
|
Star of the sea
|
Irish
|
|
|
|
Maurene
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Maurine
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Maurise
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Maurita
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Maurizia
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Mavra
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
May
|
The fifth month
|
English
|
|
|
|
Mayme
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Maymie
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Mayra
|
Form of Mary
|
Irish
|
|
|
|
Mayria
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Meridel
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Meriel
|
Sea nymph; shining sea
|
Irish
|
|
|
|
Mimi
|
A diminutive form of Miriam and, through the French, of Wilhelmina.
|
French
|
|
|
|
Minette
|
Star of the sea; love; will helmet, protection
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Minnie
|
A variant form of Mary.
|
English
|
|
|
|
Minny
|
Star of the sea; will helmet, protection
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Miriam
|
Of the sea
|
Hebrew
|
|
|
|
Mitzi
|
|
German
|
|
|
|
Moira
|
“She who is allotted (by fate),” ultimately from the Greek meiresthai, to receive one’s portion.
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Moire
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Moll
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Mollie
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Molly
|
Of the sea
|
English
|
|
|
|
Morag
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Moya
|
A variant form of Moira.
|
Scandinavian
|
|
|
|
Muire
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Murial
|
Star of the sea; sparkling, shining sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Muriel
|
Sparkling, shining sea
|
Irish
|
|
|
|
Murielle
|
Star of the sea; sparkling, shining sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Poll
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Polly
|
A diminutive form or nickname for Mary.
|
Latin
|
|
|
What names sound like Mary?
If you like how Mary sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Mary.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Mahra
|
Bitter
|
Hebrew
|
|
|
|
Mairi
|
|
Irish
|
|
|
|
Marah
|
Bitter
|
Hebrew
|
|
|
|
Maraya
|
Admired
|
Spanish
|
|
|
|
Marra
|
Everlasting; bitter
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Meara
|
Jolly, jovial
|
Irish
|
|
|
|
Mera
|
Aristocratic lady, princess; princess; treetop, proverb, or sheaf of corn; aristoctaric lady, princess
|
Hebrew
|
|
|
|
Mira
|
Wonderful; peace; propserous
|
Spanish
|
|
|
|
Miri
|
Wonderful; peace; propserous
|
Slavic
|
|
|
|
Mora
|
Star of the sea
|
Irish
|
|
|
|
Myra
|
Myrrh
|
Greek
|
|
|
What names are similar to Mary?
Find a name that’s like Mary, but just a little bit different.
Lists With Mary
Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name Mary.
Siblings of Mary
Mamas with kids named Mary also have kids with these names.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Colette
|
People of victory
|
French
|
|
|
|
Rose
|
Rose flower
|
English
|
|
|
|
Teresa
|
Late summer
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Mariam
|
Star of the sea
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Rosaleen
|
Gentle horse; rose
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Prescott
|
Priest's cottage
|
English
|
|
|
