Mary was the most popular baby name for girls in America for over sixty years, from the 1880s until the year 1946. It dropped to No. 2 in the late 1940s and early 50s, as Linda took the No. 1 slot, but Mary rose to the top spot again from 1953 to 1961. The name Mary remained in the top 10 throughout the 1960s but dropped in popularity from the 1970s to the present. The latest statistics rank Mary at No. 124. Although the name Mary is typically used as a girl name, it can be used any way you see fit, as sex does not have to be a part of your name selection process.

Name Variations

As a name featured prominently in the Bible, Mary has an equivalent in virtually every known language:

Maaria (Finnish) Maarja (Estonian) Mair (Welsh) Mari (Danish) Maria (Italian) María (Spanish) Mariam (Armenian) Marie (French) Mariya (Belarusian) Marja (Dutch) Maryam (Arabic)

The various spellings of Mariah/Marya/Maryah are also derived from the same name.

Similar Names

The name Mary has been mashed up or combined with various other names, leading to such combos as Maryann/Maryanne (Mary + Anne), Marybeth (Mary + Beth), Marilee (Mary + Lee), Marilu/Mary-Lou (Mary + Lou), and Marilyn (Mary + Lynne). More girl names starting with M:

MadeleineMadisonMaeveMargaretMarthaMeredithMiaMyla

More names associated with royalty:

AlexandraAnneCatherineCharlotteDianaElizabethIsabellaVictoria

Suggested Sibling Names

If you’re looking for a name to group with Mary, try one of the following:

CarolynDorothyHelenJamesJohnMichaelPatriciaThomas

Famous People Named Mary

There are several prominent figures named Mary from biblical times to current.

Marys From the New Testament

Mary, the mother of Jesus, known as the Virgin MaryMary Magdalene, an early follower of JesusMary of Clopas, who accompanied Mary Magdalene at the tomb of JesusMary of Bethany, a sister of Lazarus

British Queens

Queen Mary I of England , known for her efforts to re-establish the Catholic Church in EnglandMary, Queen of Scots, the mother of James I of EnglandQueen Mary II of England, daughter of James VII and II, wife of King William III

Other Notable Marys

Mary Baker Eddy, founder of Christian ScienceMary J. Blige, Grammy Award-winning singer and actressMary Higgins Clark, best-selling American authorMary Jackson, American mathematician and aerospace engineerMary Todd Lincoln, the wife of President Abraham LincolnMary Lyon, American pioneer in women’s educationMary Martin, Broadway performer known for her role as “Peter Pan” in the 1954 musicalMary Pickford, Academy Award-winning film starMary Shelley, English novelist best known for her book, “Frankenstein” Mary Shepard, English artist known for illustrating the “Mary Poppins” books by P.L. TraversMary Steenburgen, Academy Award-winning actressMary Stuart Masterson, American actressMary L. Trump, psychologist and author, niece of former President Donald TrumpMary Tyler Moore, American actressMary Wells, American singerMary Wollstonecraft. English writer and philosopher

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