The meaning of the name “Mary” is different in several languages, countries and cultures and has more than one possibly same or different meanings available.
Additional information: The name Mary is derived from the Hebrew name Miriam (Miryam), with some of the possible meanings being “bitterness” or “beloved lady”. The original meaning is most likely “bitterness”, as other meanings have come into existence through the exultation of the Catholic historical figure of the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus. Some Celtic communities regarded the name as a holy name which was not to be used for anyone else, but these traditions became more relaxed in the 15th and 16th centuries. This name is tied strongly to religious usage by Catholics, Christians, and Muslims around the world.
Variations of the name Mary have been very popular in some areas of the world. Marie is the French variation that has been regularly used since before the 1800s in Europe. Maria, another variation, is wildly popular in Hispanic countries, especially those in Central and South America. The original name of Miriam (or Miryam) is the Hebrew version of the name and is used also by Christians and Jews, while Mariam is the Islamic version which is still commonly given as a first name to women.
Popularity of the name Mary started on a downward trend in 1960s, but before this time from 1880 until 1961 it was the most commonly used baby girl name in the US more often than not. Until 2008 the name never left the top 100 names list, but in 2014 it was ranked as the 120th most popular name in the US. In 1860 it was also the most popular baby girl name in the UK. Even in Canada the name was the most popular from 1915-1938 for all but 5 years, while the last recorded ranking was as the 98th most popular in 1999.
Celebrities and notable people who share the name include the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus; Mary Magdalene of the Biblical New Testament; Mary J Blige, an American R&B singer; Mary Higgins Clark, a fictional author; and Mary Tyler Moore, an actress.
The first thing you should know if you are considering Mary for your baby's name is that in most countries all over the world the name Mary is a girl name.
The name Mary is of English, Hebrew origins, which means it has more than one root, and is used mostly in English speaking countries but also in a few other countries and languages of the world.
If you consider naming your baby Mary we recommend you take note of the special meaning and history of the name as your baby’s name will play a big role in its life and your baby will hear it spoken every day. Searching for a name is a very important and fun process as it’s the very first gift you will give to your baby. Many people believe that the name can affect success in life, through their children's working career and other circumstances, so they choose more “respectable” names or name meanings as they believe that the name meaning reflects the personality of the child.
Mary Name Meaning
The meaning of Mary has more than one different etymologies. It has same or different meanings in other countries and languages. The different meanings of the name Mary are:
Hebrew meaning: Bitter
English meaning: Bitter
American meaning: Sea of bitterness
Latin meaning: The star of the sea
Keep in mind that many names may have different meanings in other countries and languages, so be careful that the name that you choose doesn’t mean something bad or unpleasant. Search comprehensively and find the name meaning of Mary and its name origin or of any other name in our database. Also note the spelling and the pronunciation of the name Mary and check the initials of the name with your last name to discover how it looks and sounds. The history and meaning of the name Mary is fascinating, learn more about it. (If you know more meanings of the name and you would like to contribute click here to submit another name meaning).
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Name Mary Categories
The name Mary is in the following categories: American Names, Biblical Names, Celtic Names, Christian Names, Classic Names, English Names, Hebrew Names, Latin Names, Literary Characters Names, Middle Names, Pirate Names, Saints Names, Scottish Names, Twilight Names. (If you would like to suggest one or more categories for the name, click here). We have plenty of different baby name categories to search for special meanings plus popular and unique names, search our database before choosing but also note that baby name categories designed to help you and not to be an influential factor when choosing a name. Instead, we recommend that you pay a greater attention to the origin and meaning of the name Mary. Read our baby name articles for useful tips regarding baby names and naming your baby. If you are thinking of giving your baby the beautiful name Mary, spread the love and share this with your friends.
Popularity of the Name Mary
Below you will find the popularity of the baby name Mary displayed annually, from 1880 to the present day in our name popularity chart. Hover over or click on the dots that represent a year to see how many babies were given the name for that year, for both genders, if available.
Mary Boy Name Popularity Chart
Mary Girl Name Popularity Chart
Note:The data above is from the Social Security Administrator of United States, (more info here) from Social Security card applications for births in US for every name, from 1880 up to the present year. The gender associated with the name might be incorrect, as the data presents the record applications without being edited for errors. The name's popularity and ranking is announced annually, so the data for this year will not be available until next year. The more babies that are given a name, the higher popularity ranking the name receives. For names with the same popularity, the tie is solved by assigning popularity rank in alphabetical order. This means that if two or more names have the same popularity their rankings may differ significantly, as they are set in alphabetical order. If a name has less than five occurrences, the SSA excludes it from the provided data to protect privacy.
If you’re not sure yet, see our wide selection of both boy names and girl names all over the world to find the ideal name for your new born baby. We offer a comprehensive and meaningful list of popular names and cool names along with the name's origin, meaning, pronunciation, popularity and additional information.
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Do your research and choose a name wisely, kindly and selflessly.
Our research is continuous so that we can deliver a high quality service; our lists are reviewed by our name experts regularly but if you think the information on this page is incorrect or incomplete, please let us know. Use our contact form to submit your suggestions, or leave your comment below.
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