Mary
Meaning of Mary
The name Mary is a classic and timeless choice for a baby girl, with deep historical and cultural roots. Originating from the Hebrew name Miriam, which means "bitter" or "beloved," Mary has been a popular name across various cultures for centuries. In English, it is pronounced as MAIR-ee (/ˈmɑri/) or MEH-ree (/ˈmɛri/). The name Mary holds significant religious connotations, particularly in Christianity, where it is associated with the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. Variations of the name include Marie and Maria. Despite its long history, Mary remains a beloved choice among parents in the United States; it ranked 135th in popularity in 2023. Although its peak popularity was in the mid-20th century when it consistently held the top spot, Mary continues to be cherished for its simplicity and enduring elegance.
Pronunciation
American English
- Pronunced as MAIR-ee (/ˈmɑri/)
British English
- Pronunced as MEH-ree (/ˈmɛri/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Mary
| Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley was an English novelist known for writing the Gothic novel Frankenstein and for promoting the works of her husband, Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. |
| Mary Jane Seacole was a British nurse and businesswoman known for her work during the Crimean War. |
| Mary Jane Blige is an acclaimed American singer, songwriter, and actress, known as the "Queen of Hip-Hop Soul" and "Queen of R&B", with numerous awards and nominations to her name. |
| Mary Wollstonecraft, a British writer and philosopher, is celebrated as a pioneering advocate for women's rights and is considered one of the founding feminist philosophers. |
| Mary of Burgundy, also known as Mary the Rich, was a prominent ruler of various states within the House of Valois-Burgundy from 1477 until her passing in 1482. |
| Mary Surratt - Mary Elizabeth Jenkins Surratt was an American boarding house owner convicted of involvement in the conspiracy to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln, becoming the first woman executed by the U.S. federal government. |
| Mary Dyer was an English and colonial American Puritan-turned-Quaker who was hanged in Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony for defying a Puritan law banning Quakers from the colony, and is one of the Boston martyrs. |
| Mary Anning was an English fossil collector and palaeontologist known for her groundbreaking discoveries in Jurassic marine fossil beds along the English Channel, which revolutionized scientific understanding of prehistoric life and Earth's history. |
| Mary Patricia McAleese is an Irish activist, lawyer, academic, author, and former politician who served as the eighth president of Ireland from 1997 to 2011, making her the second female president of Ireland. |
| Constance Mary Whitehouse was a British teacher and conservative activist known for her campaign against social liberalism and the mainstream British media. |
| Mary Robinson - Mary Therese Winifred Robinson was the first female President of Ireland, serving from 1990 to 1997, and later became the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. |
| Mary McLeod Bethune - Mary Jane McLeod Bethune was a prominent American educator, philanthropist, and civil rights activist who founded the National Council of Negro Women and played a significant role in various African American women's organizations. |
| Mary Pickford, also known as Gladys Marie Smith, was a pioneering Canadian actress, producer, and screenwriter with a Hollywood career that lasted for five decades. |
| Mary Beatrice Midgley was a British philosopher known for her work on science, ethics, and animal rights, and author of over 15 books, including "Beast and Man" and "Animals and Why They Matter." |
| Mary Todd Lincoln - Mary Ann Todd Lincoln was the first lady of the United States from 1861 to 1865, during her husband President Abraham Lincoln's term, until his assassination. |
