Mary

ClassicTimelessTraditionalSacredGentle

Mary is a classic name of Hebrew origin, derived from Miriam, meaning "bitter" or "beloved." It holds deep religious significance as the name of the mother of Jesus in Christian tradition and has been one of the most enduring names across cultures for centuries.

Current Popularity

#125 for girls

in the United States (2025)

Projected 2026: #126, likely #104 to #148

↗Steady

Popularity over time

188019502020
Recent years · births per year

Dashed bar: 2026 (projected): 2,255. How this is calculated

Yearly values
  • 2011: 2,715
  • 2012: 2,587
  • 2013: 2,669
  • 2014: 2,637
  • 2015: 2,642
  • 2016: 2,526
  • 2017: 2,425
  • 2018: 2,369
  • 2019: 2,241
  • 2020: 2,230
  • 2021: 2,102
  • 2022: 2,119
  • 2023: 2,085
  • 2024: 2,219
  • 2025: 2,230
  • 2026 (projected): 2,255

Good to Know

Common nicknames: Molly, Polly, Mae, Mamie, Minnie, May
  • •Universally recognized and easy to spell across many languages
  • •Strong historical and religious significance in Western culture
  • •Has inspired countless variations and international versions
  • •Works well as both a first name and middle name
  • •Multiple spelling variations exist

Famous People

M

Mary Shelley

Author of Frankenstein

M

Mary Tyler Moore

Actress and comedian

M

Mary J. Blige

Singer and songwriter

M

Mary, Queen of Scots

16th-century Scottish monarch

Statistics

4,141,481

Total births since 1880

1921

Peak year

Discovery

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