Mary
A girls’ name of Hebrew origin, meaning star of the sea; beloved.
How Mary has moved
View as table
| Year | US rank |
|---|---|
| 2015 | #123 |
| 2016 | #126 |
| 2017 | #126 |
| 2018 | #126 |
| 2019 | #126 |
| 2020 | #123 |
| 2021 | #132 |
| 2022 | #136 |
| 2023 | #135 |
| 2024 | #132 |
| 2025 | #125 |
Mary by the numbers
In 2025, 131 babies in England and Wales were named Mary. In the US, 2,381 were, though that figure is from 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
For the size of the two countries, it is given noticeably more often in the US than in England and Wales.
Its American peak was 73,982 babies in 1921, so it is a 1920s name that has since fallen a long way.
At its height, in 1880, about 1 in 14 American girls born that year was called Mary.
Names that come from Mary
Forms of Mary in other languages, names built from it, and names that mean a son or daughter of it. Not always the same sex.
- Mollybeloved; a diminutive of Mary405 in England and Wales (2025)
- Maliacalm, peaceful; hawaiian form of Mary1,416 in the US (2017)
- Marilynbeloved by god; a form of Mary580 in the US (2017)
- Mariamof the sea; beloved; form of Mary179 in England and Wales (2025)
- Maeof the sea; a form of May or Mary108 in England and Wales (2025)
- Pollystar; a diminutive of Polly from Mary242 in England and Wales (2025)
- Molliestar; diminutive of Mary or Molly192 in England and Wales (2025)
- Marionof the sea; a form of Mary216 in the US (2017)
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Mary. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
- Macyweapon; from the surname Macy563 in the US (2017)
- Marabitter74 in England and Wales (2025)
- Maythe month; associated with the goddess Maia64 in England and Wales (2025)
- Mariof the sea; a form of Mary or Maria32 in England and Wales (2025)
- Marlypleasant lake or fen clearing; a variant of Marley44 in the US (2017)
- Marcyof Mars; warrior; form of Marcia14 in England and Wales (2025)
Sounds like Mary
Names that are said the same way as Mary, however they are written. Sounding alike does not mean they share a history.
- Marieof the sea; beloved; form of Mary453 in the US (2017)
- Mauriof moorish or mauritian tradition; dark-skinned14 in the US (2017)
- Mairiof the sea or beloved; scottish form of mary9 in England and Wales (2025)
- Mauryof the moors; a form of Maurice or Maureen6 in the US (2017)
- Mauriedark-skinned; a form of Maurice5 in the US (2017)
Other names that mean the sea
Like Mary, each of these has the sea in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Dylanson of the sea10,158 in the US (2017)
- Kaisea672 in England and Wales (2025)
- Mariaof the sea; a form of Mary522 in England and Wales (2025)
- Morgansea-born; great and bright2,273 in the US (2017)
- Mariahof the sea; a form of Maria1,604 in the US (2017)
- Halliefrom the hall; sea-woman1,246 in England and Wales (2025)
Other names that mean a star
Like Mary, each of these has a star in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Stellastar5,038 in the US (2017)
- Novanew; a brightening star650 in England and Wales (2025)
- Estherstar333 in England and Wales (2025)
- Miriamstar of the sea; beloved197 in England and Wales (2025)
- Maryamstar of the sea or beloved825 in England and Wales (2025)
- Estellastar; feminine form of Estelle346 in the US (2017)
Names about as common as Mary
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