Mary
Mary is a Christian girl name of Hebrew, via Greek and Latin origin, meaning “Debated: beloved, bitter, or of the sea”.
| Meaning | Debated: beloved, bitter, or of the sea |
|---|---|
| Gender | Girl |
| Origin | Hebrew, via Greek and Latin |
| Pronunciation | MAIR-ee |
| Tradition | Christian |
| Used in | Worldwide |
Meaning and origin of Mary
Mary is the English form of Hebrew Miryam. Its meaning is debated: proposals include Hebrew mar, 'bitter', an Egyptian root meaning 'beloved', and the medieval interpretation 'star of the sea'. As the name of the mother of Jesus, it became the most popular female name in Christian Europe for centuries. Queen Mary I and Mary Shelley are well-known bearers.
Is Mary a Christian name?
Mary is the mother of Jesus in the Gospels and is honoured above all other saints in Catholic and Orthodox Christianity; she is also revered in Islam as Maryam.
How popular is Mary?
Once the most common girl's name in the English-speaking world; still well used.
Gifts with the name Mary
- Mary name necklaces & bracelets (Amazon)
- Personalised Mary baby gifts (Amazon)
- Christian baby gifts & books (Amazon)
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Spellings and variants of Mary
Names similar to Mary
More Christian girl names
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Mary mean?
Mary means 'Debated: beloved, bitter, or of the sea'. It is of Hebrew, via Greek and Latin origin.
Is Mary a Christian name?
Mary is the mother of Jesus in the Gospels and is honoured above all other saints in Catholic and Orthodox Christianity; she is also revered in Islam as Maryam.
How do you pronounce Mary?
Mary is pronounced MAIR-ee.
Is Mary a boy or girl name?
Mary is usually a girl name.