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Rosemary Name Origin: Latin
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Pronunciation: r(o)-sema-ry, ros(e)-mary
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See what 8 people think about Rosemary
Rosemary Name Meaning
The name Rosemary is a classic, timeless choice for a baby girl. But where did this name come from, and what does it mean? Let’s take a closer look at the history, origin, and popularity of the name Rosemary.
A Rose by Any Other Name
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.
Herb of Remembrance
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 Through the Ages
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.
A Timeless Choice
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.
Ask your friends & family about Rosemary…
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% |
District of Columbia (DC)
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
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German
|
|
|
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Rosemaree
|
Dew of the sea
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Latin
|
|
|
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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
|
|
|
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Evangeline
|
Good news
|
English
|
|
|
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Anthony
|
Unknown meaning
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Henry
|
Home ruler
|
English
|
|
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