The story behind Mary
From Middle English Marie, from Old French Marie, from Latin Maria, from Ancient Greek Μαρία (María), Μαριάμ (Mariám), from Aramaic מַרְיָם (maryām) or Biblical Hebrew מִרְיָם (miryām), of uncertain meaning (see the Hebrew entry for more). Doublet of Miriam, Marie, Maria, and Mariah.
Other language forms and explanations (1)
Tagalog entry
Borrowed from English Mary. Doublet of Maria.
Pronunciation
Received-Pronunciation: /ˈmɛə.ɹi/
Regional pronunciation variants
- British, Southern, Standard: /ˈmɛːɹɪj/
- Lancashire, fair–fur merger: /ˈmɜːɹɪ/
- Scotland: /ˈmeɾe/
- Scotland: [ˈmeːɾe]
- Wales: /ˈmɛːɾi/
- without the Mary–marry–merry merger: /ˈmɛɚi/
- also, without the Mary–marry–merry merger: /ˈmɛɹi/
- Mary–marry–merry merger, Canada: /ˈmɛɹi/
- Australia: /ˈmeːɹi/
- without the cheer–chair merger: /ˈmeəɹi/
- cheer–chair merger: /ˈmiəɹi/
- Tagalog; Standard-Tagalog: /ˈmeɾi/
- Tagalog; Standard-Tagalog: [ˈmɛː.ɾɪ]
Popularity
Mary ranked #125 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Mary
Mercy
From mercy in the 17th century; one of the less common Puritan virtue names. In modern use sometimes used to anglicize Spanish Mercedes. Borrowed from English Mercy.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Merry
Borrowed from English Merry.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Misty
From the adjective misty, but sometimes also (like Missy) used as a nickname for Melissa.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Molly
From Moll, diminutive lambdacism of Mary + -y.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Murray
Unadapted borrowing from English Murray.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Ary
A male given name from Hebrew, of Jewish usage, variant of Arieh.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Mary
Ann
From Late Latin Anna chiefly in reference to St Anne the apocryphal mother of Mary mother of Jesus but appearing in the Vulgate in reference to Anna the Prophetess, from Koine…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Dan
From Hebrew דָּן (Dan). Dimunitve of Danjell (“Daniel”), Daniel (“id”) and Daniell (“id”). From Latin Daniēl (from Ancient Greek Δᾱνῑήλ (Dānīḗl), from Hebrew דָּנִיֵּאל).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Eve
From Middle English Eve, Eue, from Old English Ēua, Ēfe, from Latin Eva, from Ancient Greek Εὔα (Eúa), from Biblical Hebrew חַוָּה (ḥawwā).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Mary
Abel
English Abel From Middle English Abel, from Old English Ābel, from Latin Abel, from Ancient Greek Ἅβελ (Hábel), from Biblical Hebrew הֶבֶל (Héḇel, “Abel”), possibly from the…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Adah
From Hebrew עָדָה (adá, “Adah”, literally “ornament, dawn”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends H
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Adam
Middle English Adam English Adam From Middle English Adam, from Old English Adam, from Latin Adam, Adamus, from Ancient Greek Ἀδάμ (Adám), Ἄδαμος (Ádamos), from Biblical Hebrew…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection