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%

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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

Marjan

Polish

Marje

Star of the sea

Latin

Marla

A variant short form of Mary.

Hebrew

Marlo

Modern

Marya

Star of the sea

Latin

Maryann

A variant form of Marianne.

English

Maryanne

Star of the sea

Latin

Marybel

Star of the sea

Latin

Marybell

Star of the sea

Latin

Marybeth

Star of the sea

Latin

Maryjo

Star of the sea

Latin

Marylee

Star of the sea; joyful, lighthearted

Latin

Marylin

Star of the sea

Latin

Marylou

Star of the sea

Latin

Marylu

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.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Annamaria

Combination of Anna and Maria

English

Asia

Sunrise

Greek

Fatima

One who abstains

Arabic

Khadija

Early baby

Arabic

Luz

Light

Spanish

Maery
Mairin

Star of the sea

Irish

Marika

Form of Mary

Danish, Polish

Marisela

Latin

Maristela

Spanish

Marjo
Marlin

Spanish

Marlisa

Latin

Maya

Dream

Indian (Sanskrit)

Meiriona

Welsh

Merry

Joyful, lighthearted

English

Moriah

The hill country

Hebrew

Rosemary

Dew of the sea

Latin


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

18 Comments

  1. It’s classic, timeless and inspired by our Blessed Mother and family names. It goes well with sisters name Claire.

  2. Looking for the name to my daughter

  3. Mary Hayes is a family name and we fell in love with it as soon as we heard it

  4. Fuck you mary

  5. I was born in Uzbekistan and had a daughter there we named her mary she ended up getting taken by a taliban patrol and i watched as they killed her with a rifle

    • I am very sorry to hear about what happened to your daughter. Peace!

  6. Mary is a family name. It is a grandmother’s name that is very meaningful for us. As well as religious name. We believe that the Virgin Mary is someone that we want our daughter to be like, the first disciple of Jesus.

  7. Mary is my husband’s grandmother’s name, she passed away 2 years ago, and then her middle name is Irene, which is my grandmother’s middle name. I love the name Mary Irene, it could be either a very delicate name or a very bad-a** name.

  8. Mary is my mother second name, to honor her i name my daughter after her. More importantly as a believer Mary is an important person,

  9. After Mary Magdalene of the Bible and its also a family name. 🙂

  10. We named our girl Mary Rose, after our blessed Virgin Mary.

  11. Beautiful, classic, feminine, and an homage to Mary, the Mother of Jesus.

  12. In honor of the Virgin Mary!

  13. I love the character of Mary who is Jesus mom from the bible.

  14. Named after the Blessed Virgin Mary, she was born on the Feast of the Nativity of Mary.

  15. I have gone through life with a name meaning “bitter pearl”. I am pleased to see the option “of the sea” because “pearl of the sea” is a beautiful name meaning!

  16. Mary was my late mother’s name. My daughter is named in honor of both her grandmothers. My husband suggested it as we were laying in bed four hour after giving birth. We had chosen not pick names or know the gender beforehand. I had nothing, and was panicking. My husband, as usal, had it all under control.

    I like how Mary sounds. As a name, it has rich history. However, it is fairly uncommon at the moment.

    I dislike how many nursery rhymes contain the name Mary. Mary, Mary, quite contrary, drives me nuts.

  17. We are Catholic, so this daughter is named after our blessed mother


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