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The short answer
Rosemary is a feminine English name formed as a combination of Rose and Mary. Behind the Name notes it can also be given in reference to the herb, whose own name comes from Latin ros marinus, "dew of the sea". It came into use as a given name in the 19th century. It is pronounced ROHZ-mər-ee. In the United States it ranked #251 for girls in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name gives Rosemary as a "combination of Rose and Mary", adding that "this name can also be given in reference to the herb, which gets its name from Latin ros marinus meaning 'dew of the sea'", and that it "came into use as a given name in the 19th century". Behind the Name's Rose entry glosses Rose itself as "famous type", from Germanic hruod "fame" and heit "kind, sort, type", later associated with the flower name from Latin rosa; its Mary entry describes Mary's meaning as uncertain, with theories including "sea of bitterness", "rebelliousness", "wished for child" and possibly Egyptian "beloved".
Editorial confidence: established
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| English | Rose | famous type (Germanic); later associated with the flower |
| English | Mary | uncertain; theories include "sea of bitterness", "beloved" |
| Latin | ros marinus | dew of the sea (the herb rosemary) |
Competing or overlapping origins
- As a reference to the rosemary herb rather than the Rose+Mary name combination
Popularity
Rosemary ranked #251 for girls in the United States in 2025 (Social Security Administration).
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #251 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: Romy, Romey
Variants: Rosemarie
What the name feels like
Rosemary combines the floral warmth of Rose with the classic weight of Mary, giving it a vintage, herbal-garden feel that has aged into a fresh-sounding choice again. The nickname Romy gives it a shorter, more modern option.
Style tags: vintage, botanical, three syllables
Editorial interpretation: These style impressions are editorial judgment, not linguistic fact.
If you like this name
Names that share Rosemary's floral roots or its Rose-plus-Mary construction.
Similar by meaning
Similar by style
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Rosemary mean?
Rosemary is a combination of Rose and Mary, and Behind the Name notes it can also be given in reference to the herb, whose name comes from Latin ros marinus, "dew of the sea".
Is Rosemary a popular name?
Rosemary ranked #251 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are nicknames for Rosemary?
Behind the Name lists Romy and Romey as diminutives of Rosemary.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Rosemary — supports etymology, pronunciation, variants, history.
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Rose — supports meaning.
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Mary — supports meaning.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
