Mary - Name Meaning and Origin

The boy's and girl's name Mary \m(a)-ry\ is pronounced MARE-ee. It is of Latin origin, and its meaning is "star of the sea". Saint Jerome associated the Virgin's name with the Latin phrase "stella maris". Other possible meanings are (Hebrew) "wished-for child; rebellion; sea of bitterness". Variant of Miriam. Biblical: the virgin mother of Christ. Mary became the object of great veneration in the Catholic Church. Through the centuries, names like Dolores and Mercedes have been created to express aspects of Mary's life and worship. Mary is also used in blends and compound names. See also Maira, Mari, Maribel, Marigold, Marisa, Marissa, and Mia. Actresses Mary Pickford, Mary Martin, Mary Stuart Masterson; Queen Mary of Scots; artist Mary Cassatt; writer Mary Shelley; political strategist Mary Matalin; pop singer Mary J. Blige.

Mary has 102 variant forms: Mair, Mal, Malia, Mallie, Mame, Mamie, Manette, Manon, Manya, Mara, Marabel, Marabelle, Mare, Maree, Marella, Marelle, Maren, Maretta, Marette, Maria, Mariam, Marian, Mariana, Mariann, Marianna, Marianne, Marice, Maridel, Marie, Mariel, Mariela, Mariella, Marielle, Marietta, Mariette, Marilee, Marilin, Marilla, Marilyn, Marin, Marion, Mariquilla, Mariquita, Mariska, Marita, Maritsa, Maritza, Marja, Marjan, Marje, Marla, Marlo, Marya, Maryann, Maryanne, Marybel, Marybell, Marybeth, Maryjo, Marylee, Marylin, Marylou, Marylu, Marysa, Maryse, Marysia, Masha, Maura, Maure, Maureen, Maurene, Maurine, Maurise, Maurita, Maurizia, Mavra, May, Mayme, Maymie, Mayra, Mayria, Meridel, Meriel, Mimi, Minette, Minnie, Minny, Miriam, Mitzi, Moira, Moire, Moll, Mollie, Molly, Morag, Moya, Muire, Murial, Muriel, Murielle, Poll and Polly.

For more information, see also related names Annamaria, Asia, Fatima, Khadija, Luz, Maery, Marika, Marisela, Maristela, Marjo, Marlin, Marlisa, Maya, Meiriona, Merry, Moriah and Rosemary.

Baby names that sound like Mary are Myra, Mira, Mera, Marra, Marah, Mahra, Maire, Mora, Mairi, Meara, Miri and Maraya.

Mary is a very popular female first name and a very popular surname (source: 1990 U.S. Census). Displayed below is the baby name popularity trend for the girl's name Mary. Click here to compare Mary with related baby names.