Mary

At a Glance

Origin

Hebrew (via Aramaic, Greek, Latin, Old French, Middle English)

Gender

Neutral

Pronunciation

MAIR-eeListen

Mary traces back to Hebrew, passing through Aramaic, Greek, Latin, Old French, and Middle English on its way into English. You'll often see it said to mean 'bitter,' 'beloved,' or 'wished-for child,' but none of those are confirmed — the underlying Hebrew name Miriam is of uncertain meaning. Said MAIR-ee (/ˈmɛri/), it has a simple, modern feel.

Meaning & Origin of Mary

Origin: Hebrew (via Aramaic, Greek, Latin, Old French, Middle English).

A common claim: Mary is widely said to mean 'bitter,' 'beloved,' or 'wished-for child.' Actually: Mary derives from the Hebrew name Miriam, whose meaning is uncertain according to Wiktionary — not confirmed as 'bitter,' 'beloved,' or 'wished-for child.'

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Mary

Popularity of Mary

Mary ranked #132 in 2024, given to 2,196 babies, a long way down from its peak at #1 in 1880, when 7,065 babies carried the name.

Names Like Mary

These names share Mary’s style, era or origin.

• Adler
• Aila
• Aphra
• Boden
• Dakari
• Elson

FAQ

What does the name Mary mean?

Mary is widely said to mean ‘bitter,’ ‘beloved,’ or ‘wished-for child.’ Mary derives from the Hebrew name Miriam, whose meaning is uncertain according to Wiktionary — not confirmed as ‘bitter,’ ‘beloved,’ or ‘wished-for child.’

How do you pronounce Mary?

Mary is pronounced MAIR-ee (IPA: /ˈmɛri/).

Is Mary a popular name right now?

Mary peaked at #1 in 1880 and is ranked #132 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

Make Mary Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Mary, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.