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Why parents love Mary- It held number one for roughly 80 years — unprecedented in any culture.
- The Virgin Mary makes it the most sacred women's name in Christianity.
- Four letters, two syllables — the simplest, most complete name possible.
- Mary Shelley, Mary Cassatt, Mary Poppins — the associations are infinite.
- It has dropped enough in popularity to feel distinctive again.
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The vibe of Mary
sacredmaternaluniversalsimplepowerfulenduringclassicholy
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Origin & history of Mary
Hebrew Miriam (debated: wished-for child / rebellion / sea of bitterness)
→ Greek Mariam
→ Latin Maria
→ English Mary
1
Hebrew roots
Mary comes from the Hebrew Miriam, through the Greek Mariam and Latin Maria. The Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus Christ, made the name the most important in Christian naming tradition. For centuries it was considered too sacred to use as a given name; when it entered common usage around the 12th century, it became the dominant women's name in the Western world. Mary held the US number-one position from 1880 (when records begin) through 1961, with only brief interruptions. Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein at age 18. Mary Cassatt was one of the greatest Impressionist painters. Mary has now dropped below the top 100 for the first time in recorded history, making it ripe for rediscovery.
2
First recorded
Earliest known use: Ancient — the Virgin Mary in the New Testament; has been the most common English women's name for centuries.
3
Today
Mary remains a beloved choice, ranking #128 in the US. 4,154,332 babies have been named Mary since 1880.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, Britannica, SSA data
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How popular is Mary?
1921
peak year
Mary was a name of the Roaring Twenties. Through that decade it averaged #1 nationally — one of the era's most chosen names. In 1921, 73,984 babies were given the name — making it the #1 most popular name in the United States that year. In the present decade it sits around #128, with about 2,293 babies given the name annually. Mary's usage has held roughly steady recently. The all-time total comes to roughly 4,154,332 registrations.
Year-by-year registrations
1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
73,984
Babies named in peak year
(ranked #1)
(ranked #1)
2,293
Avg. per year
(last decade)
(last decade)
22,930
Total registrations
last 10 years
last 10 years
4,154,332
All-time total
(since 1880)
(since 1880)
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Numerology of Mary3
Life path number
The Creator
Creativity, joy and self-expression.
Mary's Life Path 3 is the communicator's number — fitting for the most used women's name in history, a name that has communicated faith, love, and identity across two millennia. People named Mary tend to be warm, grounded, and quietly authoritative. They carry enormous weight lightly.
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Carries enormous weight lightly✦
Quietly authoritative◈
Grounded and warm◎
Communicates through presence♡
Timeless strengthM4
A1
R9
Y7
Sum: 21 → Life path 3
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Personality of Mary✨
Bright & creative
Imaginative, expressive, endlessly inventive.
😊
Magnetic warmth
Their laugh is contagious. People love being near them.
🌈
Eternal optimist
Even in dark moments they find the light.
🗣️
Storyteller
They can describe anything and make it fascinating.
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Famous people named MaryClick any name to view their Wikipedia page.
M
Virgin Mary
Mother of Jesus, the most venerated woman in Christianity.
M
Mary Shelley
Author of Frankenstein at age 18, inventor of science fiction.
M
Mary Cassatt
One of the greatest American Impressionist painters.
M
Mary Poppins
One of the most iconic characters in children's literature and film.
M
Mary Queen of Scots
Queen regnant of Scotland whose life and execution shaped British history.
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If you like Mary, you may also love◎
Names that sound like MaryIf you love Mary, you might love these names with a similar sound, rhythm or feel.
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Names that combine with MarySibling pairings that share the timeless, classic energy of Mary.
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Middle names for MaryThe right middle name turns Mary into a complete story. Explore options for first-and-middle pairings, then last-name flow.
Want a personalised middle name for Mary? Try our dedicated generator with 1,000+ pairings.
♡ Generate middle name for Mary →✦
Numerology life path calculatorEnter any full name and date of birth to discover the life path number — a core numerological indicator of personality, purpose and destiny.
First name
Middle name (optional)
Last name
Date of birth
7
Life path number
How we calculated this
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