Rosemary Name Meaning

The name Rosemary is derived from the Latin words “ros” meaning “dew” and “marinus” meaning “sea.” So, essentially, the name Rosemary means “dew of the sea.” How romantic is that? The name was first used as a given name in the late 19th century and has been popular ever since.

Origins of the Name Rosemary

Rosemary is also an herb that has been used for centuries in cooking and as a symbol of remembrance. The ancient Greeks and Romans believed that rosemary could improve memory, and students would often wear a sprig of rosemary in their hair during exams. The herb was also used in funerals and is still used today as a symbol of remembrance.

Popularity of the Name Rosemary

Rosemary has never been a super-popular name, but it has had its moments in the spotlight. In the early 20th century, the name was quite popular in the United States, but it started to decline in the 1950s. In the last decade, the name has seen a resurgence in popularity and is now considered a trendy and modern choice for a baby girl.

Famous Rosemarys

Throughout history, there have been many famous women named Rosemary. One of the most well-known is Rosemary Clooney, an American singer and actress. She had a string of hit songs in the 1950s, including “Come On-a My House” and “Mambo Italiano.” Another famous Rosemary is Rosemary Kennedy, the sister of President John F. Kennedy. Unfortunately, she was lobotomized in 1941 and spent the rest of her life in an institution.

In literature, Rosemary is the name of the protagonist in the novel “Rosemary’s Baby” by Ira Levin, which was later made into a movie. In the story, Rosemary is a young woman who becomes pregnant with the devil’s child. The novel was a bestseller and the movie adaptation directed by Roman Polanski was a box office hit.

Final Thoughts on the Name Rosemary

Overall, the name Rosemary is a classic, timeless choice for a baby girl. Its meaning, “dew of the sea,” is romantic and lovely, and its use as a symbol of remembrance gives it a deeper significance. And with its recent resurgence in popularity, it’s a trendy and modern choice. Whether you’re naming a baby, an herb garden, or a literary character, Rosemary is a versatile and beautiful name.

Infographic of Rosemary name meaning, which is “The dew of the sea,” from the Latin ros (dew) and mare (the sea). Also regarded as a name combined from Rose and Mary.
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Rosemary Name Popularity

How popular is the name Rosemary? Here’s everything we know.

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 324 100 0.0284%
1911 309 121 0.0325%
1912 263 244 0.0484%
1913 243 357 0.063%
1914 227 517 0.0742%
1915 201 787 0.0866%
1916 184 966 0.1%
1917 178 1,080 0.108%
1918 171 1,224 0.114%
1919 165 1,313 0.1254%
1920 141 1,686 0.1516%
1921 129 2,006 0.1752%
1922 120 2,154 0.1933%
1923 110 2,417 0.2158%
1924 106 2,717 0.234%
1925 103 2,738 0.2422%
1926 96 2,880 0.2618%
1927 86 3,133 0.283%
1928 88 2,950 0.2757%
1929 81 3,091 0.2984%
1930 82 3,135 0.3001%
1931 88 2,695 0.2731%
1932 100 2,463 0.2493%
1933 103 2,206 0.2368%
1934 111 2,104 0.2176%
1935 98 2,376 0.2445%
1936 111 2,135 0.2216%
1937 110 2,291 0.2325%
1938 95 2,672 0.261%
1939 94 2,593 0.2549%
1940 85 2,859 0.269%
1941 95 2,662 0.2365%
1942 93 2,988 0.2366%
1943 95 2,962 0.2269%
1944 98 2,736 0.2208%
1945 79 3,499 0.2869%
1946 74 4,484 0.3039%
1947 80 4,536 0.2717%
1948 90 3,866 0.2422%
1949 98 3,628 0.2255%
1950 101 3,453 0.2145%
1951 109 3,337 0.1968%
1952 130 2,773 0.1589%
1953 147 2,423 0.1369%
1954 160 2,180 0.1193%
1955 171 1,996 0.1085%
1956 176 2,050 0.1085%
1957 168 2,258 0.1173%
1958 171 2,198 0.1163%
1959 173 2,220 0.1168%
1960 181 2,167 0.1144%
1961 181 2,114 0.112%
1962 194 1,921 0.1046%
1963 204 1,712 0.0954%
1964 214 1,597 0.0907%
1965 242 1,247 0.0763%
1966 253 1,093 0.07%
1967 279 886 0.0584%
1968 296 843 0.0561%
1969 322 760 0.0493%
1970 334 750 0.0471%
1971 343 698 0.0465%
1972 359 576 0.0423%
1973 351 565 0.0436%
1974 351 575 0.0442%
1975 389 486 0.0378%
1976 415 448 0.0348%
1977 447 405 0.03%
1978 456 396 0.0295%
1979 429 444 0.0315%
1980 392 543 0.0371%
1981 402 524 0.0356%
1982 421 489 0.0327%
1983 432 447 0.0303%
1984 433 442 0.0297%
1985 435 461 0.0304%
1986 470 409 0.0271%
1987 476 412 0.027%
1988 524 377 0.0242%
1989 521 409 0.0253%
1990 507 429 0.0259%
1991 552 378 0.0232%
1992 560 375 0.0235%
1993 606 337 0.0216%
1994 575 353 0.023%
1995 573 357 0.0237%
1996 576 352 0.0235%
1997 643 300 0.0203%
1998 621 338 0.0226%
1999 637 323 0.0216%
2000 639 345 0.0226%
2001 623 360 0.0239%
2002 631 361 0.0241%
2003 661 356 0.0234%
2004 708 330 0.0217%
2005 711 334 0.0218%
2006 713 349 0.0223%
2007 725 353 0.0224%
2008 731 351 0.0227%
2009 706 361 0.0242%
2010 698 355 0.0246%
2011 644 387 0.0272%
2012 606 420 0.0295%
2013 518 520 0.0365%
2014 563 485 0.0333%
2015 511 558 0.0383%
2016 426 699 0.0485%
2017 433 664 0.0476%
2018 434 662 0.0482%
2019 383 740 0.0547%
2020 453 635 0.0499%
2021 362 766 0.0627%
2022 365 831 0.063%
2023 308 973 0.0752%

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Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Rosemary

If you like Rosemary, you’ll love these other names like Rosemary.

What names are variants of Rosemary?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Rosemary.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Romy

Diminutive of Rosemary and Rosemarie

German

Rosemaree

Dew of the sea

Latin

Rosemarey

Dew of the sea

Latin

Rosemaria

Dew of the sea

Latin

Rosemarie

Dew of the sea

Latin

Rosmarie

Dew of the sea

Latin

Rozmary

Dew of the sea

Latin

Lists With Rosemary

Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name Rosemary.

Siblings of Rosemary

Mamas with kids named Rosemary also have kids with these names.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Alfred

Elf or magical counsel

English

Evangeline

Good news

English

Anthony

Unknown meaning

Latin

Henry

Home ruler

English

11 Comments

  1. Im a chef and one of my favorite herbs since I was young was rosemary. I remember always smelling it in my moms garden.. I also love the song “love grows” by Edison lighthouse which i sing to her all the time! “My love grows where my rosemary goes and nobody knows like me”

    Reply

  2. It’s a family namesake

    Reply

  3. I had a dream that Rosemary was the name of my baby girl. And then I woke up I knew that would be the name I would give my baby if I had a girl. A few weeks later I found out o was pregnant and I just knew she was a girl because the doctor ever confirmed it.

    Reply

  4. Means dew of the sea, we love the water and live near the ocean, plus the herb. It’s simple, traditional and still unique and she can choose to go by Rosie, Rose or her full name. We’re happy with it!

    Reply

  5. Rosemary is a tribute to my Grandma Mary and her closest friend and sister, Rose, who died too young.

    Reply

  6. My partner and I both love older names, and find them to be just beautiful!
    We also love the lore behind rosemary as an herb, and felt it was fitting for our first little one.

    Reply

  7. Had Rose’s aunt thought of the name

    Reply

  8. We named our daughter Rosemary after my husband’s mother, Mary Jo, who’s favorite flower was a Rose.

    Reply

    • MARY JO WAS MY LATE MOTHERS NAME SO NOW I HATE IT BECAUSE IT REMINDS ME OF WHAT I LOST. my beautiful mama. 🙁

      Reply

  9. My husband has wanted a Rosemary for years. It has very Catholic roots, which I love.

    Reply

  10. It’s a classic name that can sound elegant as Rosemary or Rose, but can be turned into the cute nickname, Rosie. It fits all ages well!

    Reply

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