Mary · Daily fortune

Mary is the usual English form of Maria, from the New Testament Greek Mariam/Maria, ultimately from Hebrew Miryam, the name of Moses's sister in the Old Testament. Behind the Name says its meaning is not known for certain, with theories including "sea of bitterness," "rebelliousness," "wished for child," or an Egyptian origin related to "beloved" or "love." As the name of Mary, the mother of Jesus, it has been extremely popular in the Christian world; it was the top American girls' name from 1880 until 1946. It is pronounced MAIR-ee. In the United States it ranked #125 for girls in 2025.

Behind the Name gives Mary as the usual English form of Maria, the Latin form of the New Testament Greek Μαριάμ (Mariam) and Μαρία (Maria), from Hebrew מִרְיָם (Miryam), borne by the sister of Moses in the Old Testament. It states the meaning is not known for certain, listing several theories: "sea of bitterness," "rebelliousness," and "wished for child," while noting it was most likely originally an Egyptian name, perhaps derived in part from mry "beloved" or mr "love." The name is borne by several New Testament figures, most importantly Mary the mother of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. It has been used in England since the 12th century and was the most common American girls' name from 1880 until being overtaken by Linda in 1946, though it regained the top spot briefly in the 1950s before declining out of the top 100. Notable bearers include two English queens, Mary Queen of Scots, author Mary Shelley, and the fictional Mary Poppins.

Mary ranked #125 for girls in the United States in 2025 (Social Security Administration).

Mary is about as classic and unadorned as an English girls' name gets: short, simple to spell and say, and carrying enormous religious and historical weight, which today makes it feel both timeless and, after decades of decline, refreshingly plain again.

Names sharing Mary's biblical roots, its Maria/Miriam family, or its short classic style.