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At a Glance: Name: Rosemary – Meaning: a blend of the names Rose and Mary; later also linked to the herb rosemary (from Latin 'dew of the sea') – Origin: English (blend of Rose and Mary) – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: ROHZ-mair-ee
Rosemary (pronounced ROHZ-mair-ee) is an English name formed by blending Rose and Mary. It's often said to mean 'dew of the sea,' linking it to the herb's Latin root, but that's not actually where the name comes from — the herb association came later, once flower names became fashionable. It has a vintage feel with outdoorsy, nature-inspired character.
Meaning & Origin of Rosemary
Meaning: A blend of the names rose and mary; later also linked to the herb rosemary (from latin 'dew of the sea').
Origin: English (blend of Rose and Mary).
A common claim: Rosemary is popularly said to mean 'dew of the sea,' from the herb's Latin root. Actually: That's not the origin — the name began as a blend of Rose and Mary; the herb meaning attached later, once flower names became fashionable.
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Rosemary
Phonetic: ROHZ-mair-ee IPA: /ˈroʊzˌmɛri/
Popularity of Rosemary
Rosemary hit its peak in 1946, ranking #74 with 4,486 babies given the name that year; by 2024 it had settled to #301 with 1,037 babies, based on SSA records spanning 1882-2024.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1882–2024.
Make Rosemary Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Rosemary, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Rosemary mean?
A blend of the names rose and mary; later also linked to the herb rosemary (from latin ‘dew of the sea’). (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Rosemary)
How do you pronounce Rosemary?
Rosemary is pronounced ROHZ-mair-ee (IPA: /ˈroʊzˌmɛri/).
Is Rosemary a popular name right now?
Rosemary peaked at #74 in 1946 and is ranked #301 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1882–2024.)
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