Fun Facts About the Name Mary
- A favorite across generations: Mary stayed in the U.S. top 100 every year from 1880 through 2025 - 146 consecutive years.
- More than 4 million babies named Mary: U.S. records list 4,156,562 babies given the name Mary from 1880 through 2025. Even 15,172 boys received the name Mary - about 1 boy for every 273 girls.
What Does the Name Mary Mean?
Mary is the English form of Latin Maria, which comes from Greek Maria and Mariam and ultimately from the Hebrew name Miriam. The meaning of Miriam is uncertain.
The most common traditional explanation connects it with the Hebrew root marar, 'to be bitter,' so the name is sometimes glossed as 'bitter' or 'bitterness.' Another proposed root is marah, 'to rebel,' giving the sense 'rebellious.' These are competing etymological proposals, and no single one is settled. A separate suggestion derives the name from Egyptian mry, 'beloved,' but this is not established.
Later Christian symbolism sometimes treats Mary as 'star of the sea' (Latin Stella Maris), a title of the Virgin Mary rather than a literal meaning of the Hebrew name.
Mary Name History & Origins
The earliest form behind Mary is the Hebrew Miriam (מִרְיָם), the name of Moses' sister in the Hebrew Bible. Greek-speaking Jews and early Christians rendered it as Mariam (Μαριάμ) and Maria (Μαρία). The Greek New Testament uses both forms for Mary, the mother of Jesus, and also for Mary Magdalene and other women.
Latin adopted the name as Maria, and from Latin it passed into the languages of Western Europe. Old English religious texts use Maria; Middle English has Marie and Mary. In medieval England, the name was closely associated with the Virgin Mary, and many churches, monasteries, and feast days were dedicated to her. The English familiar forms Molly and Polly developed as pet forms of Mary, while Marie, Maria, and Miriam are related names in other languages. Later literary uses, such as the nursery rhyme 'Mary Had a Little Lamb,' are not the source of the name.
How Popular is the Name Mary?
Mary has maintained century-spanning popularity, remaining an unbroken fixture in the U.S. top 100 continuously from 1880 to 2008.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #125 | 2,230 | 0.1387% |
| 2024 | #132 | 2,196 | 0.1361% |
| 2023 | #133 | 2,081 | 0.1298% |
| 2022 | #134 | 2,116 | 0.1291% |
| 2021 | #132 | 2,100 | 0.1281% |
| 2020 | #123 | 2,229 | 0.1380% |
| 2019 | #126 | 2,239 | 0.1335% |
| 2018 | #126 | 2,369 | 0.1393% |
| 2017 | #126 | 2,424 | 0.1405% |
| 2016 | #126 | 2,526 | 0.1426% |
| 2015 | #123 | 2,642 | 0.1480% |
| 2014 | #120 | 2,636 | 0.1476% |
| 2013 | #118 | 2,668 | 0.1521% |
| 2012 | #121 | 2,584 | 0.1468% |
| 2011 | #112 | 2,714 | 0.1543% |
| 2010 | #108 | 2,881 | 0.1621% |
| 2009 | #102 | 3,176 | 0.1729% |
| 2008 | #96 | 3,513 | 0.1858% |
| 2007 | #93 | 3,693 | 0.1921% |
| 2006 | #80 | 4,109 | 0.2161% |
| 2005 | #72 | 4,477 | 0.2423% |
| 2004 | #62 | 4,835 | 0.2633% |
| 2003 | #59 | 5,042 | 0.2760% |
| 2002 | #49 | 5,485 | 0.3053% |
| 2001 | #48 | 5,759 | 0.3198% |
| 2000 | #46 | 6,221 | 0.3426% |
| 1999 | #45 | 6,388 | 0.3601% |
| 1998 | #44 | 6,476 | 0.3665% |
| 1997 | #46 | 6,650 | 0.3820% |
| 1996 | #44 | 6,967 | 0.3974% |
| 1995 | #40 | 7,458 | 0.4241% |
| 1994 | #37 | 7,756 | 0.4343% |
| 1993 | #36 | 8,122 | 0.4490% |
| 1992 | #36 | 8,463 | 0.4590% |
| 1991 | #38 | 8,764 | 0.4674% |
| 1990 | #35 | 8,669 | 0.4566% |
| 1989 | #38 | 8,645 | 0.4689% |
| 1988 | #34 | 8,517 | 0.4783% |
| 1987 | #37 | 8,395 | 0.4829% |
| 1986 | #37 | 8,507 | 0.4959% |
| 1985 | #35 | 9,239 | 0.5369% |
| 1984 | #33 | 9,294 | 0.5520% |
| 1983 | #32 | 9,896 | 0.5923% |
| 1982 | #30 | 10,851 | 0.6408% |
| 1981 | #27 | 11,043 | 0.6620% |
| 1980 | #25 | 11,475 | 0.6911% |
| 1979 | #24 | 10,556 | 0.6576% |
| 1978 | #24 | 10,040 | 0.6554% |
| 1977 | #21 | 10,654 | 0.6949% |
| 1976 | #22 | 10,319 | 0.7043% |
| 1975 | #19 | 10,972 | 0.7526% |
| 1974 | #13 | 11,739 | 0.7999% |
| 1973 | #14 | 12,313 | 0.8444% |
| 1972 | #13 | 13,756 | 0.9043% |
| 1971 | #9 | 16,702 | 1.0038% |
| 1970 | #9 | 19,203 | 1.0985% |
| 1969 | #8 | 19,851 | 1.1767% |
| 1968 | #6 | 21,725 | 1.3244% |
| 1967 | #4 | 25,318 | 1.5335% |
| 1966 | #3 | 28,889 | 1.7072% |
| 1965 | #2 | 34,271 | 1.9415% |
| 1964 | #2 | 40,987 | 2.1631% |
| 1963 | #2 | 41,543 | 2.1554% |
| 1962 | #2 | 43,498 | 2.2118% |
| 1961 | #1 | 47,688 | 2.3627% |
| 1960 | #1 | 51,468 | 2.5455% |
| 1959 | #1 | 54,504 | 2.6936% |
| 1958 | #1 | 55,846 | 2.7762% |
| 1957 | #1 | 61,103 | 2.9882% |
| 1956 | #1 | 61,743 | 3.0753% |
| 1955 | #1 | 63,173 | 3.2309% |
| 1954 | #1 | 68,019 | 3.5027% |
| 1953 | #1 | 64,390 | 3.4226% |
| 1952 | #2 | 65,627 | 3.5391% |
| 1951 | #2 | 65,722 | 3.6494% |
| 1950 | #2 | 65,482 | 3.8225% |
| 1949 | #2 | 66,869 | 3.9085% |
| 1948 | #2 | 68,598 | 4.0402% |
| 1947 | #2 | 71,689 | 4.0439% |
| 1946 | #1 | 67,467 | 4.2937% |
| 1945 | #1 | 59,281 | 4.5353% |
| 1944 | #1 | 62,472 | 4.7070% |
| 1943 | #1 | 66,176 | 4.7428% |
| 1942 | #1 | 63,255 | 4.6832% |
| 1941 | #1 | 58,049 | 4.8049% |
| 1940 | #1 | 56,214 | 4.9159% |
| 1939 | #1 | 54,900 | 5.0063% |
| 1938 | #1 | 56,225 | 5.0955% |
| 1937 | #1 | 55,643 | 5.2294% |
| 1936 | #1 | 54,374 | 5.2264% |
| 1935 | #1 | 55,074 | 5.2523% |
| 1934 | #1 | 56,931 | 5.4520% |
| 1933 | #1 | 55,517 | 5.5080% |
| 1932 | #1 | 59,881 | 5.6114% |
| 1931 | #1 | 60,299 | 5.6634% |
| 1930 | #1 | 64,153 | 5.6978% |
| 1929 | #1 | 63,511 | 5.6881% |
| 1928 | #1 | 66,872 | 5.7982% |
| 1927 | #1 | 70,642 | 5.9242% |
| 1926 | #1 | 67,833 | 5.7224% |
| 1925 | #1 | 70,586 | 5.7982% |
| 1924 | #1 | 73,534 | 5.8881% |
| 1923 | #1 | 71,635 | 5.9381% |
| 1922 | #1 | 72,176 | 6.0097% |
| 1921 | #1 | 73,984 | 6.0000% |
| 1920 | #1 | 70,983 | 5.9237% |
| 1919 | #1 | 65,836 | 5.8256% |
| 1918 | #1 | 67,365 | 5.8192% |
| 1917 | #1 | 64,280 | 5.9449% |
| 1916 | #1 | 61,438 | 5.8830% |
| 1915 | #1 | 58,187 | 5.9142% |
| 1914 | #1 | 45,346 | 5.9542% |
| 1913 | #1 | 36,642 | 5.8670% |
| 1912 | #1 | 32,304 | 5.7880% |
| 1911 | #1 | 24,390 | 5.8306% |
| 1910 | #1 | 22,848 | 5.7624% |
| 1909 | #1 | 19,259 | 5.5465% |
| 1908 | #1 | 18,665 | 5.5831% |
| 1907 | #1 | 17,580 | 5.5185% |
| 1906 | #1 | 16,370 | 5.5436% |
| 1905 | #1 | 16,067 | 5.5096% |
| 1904 | #1 | 14,961 | 5.4332% |
| 1903 | #1 | 14,275 | 5.4491% |
| 1902 | #1 | 14,486 | 5.4856% |
| 1901 | #1 | 13,136 | 5.4883% |
| 1900 | #1 | 16,705 | 5.5723% |
| 1899 | #1 | 13,172 | 5.6527% |
| 1898 | #1 | 14,406 | 5.5671% |
| 1897 | #1 | 13,413 | 5.7272% |
| 1896 | #1 | 13,811 | 5.8049% |
| 1895 | #1 | 13,447 | 5.7558% |
| 1894 | #1 | 13,151 | 5.8994% |
| 1893 | #1 | 12,784 | 6.0046% |
| 1892 | #1 | 13,172 | 6.2033% |
| 1891 | #1 | 11,704 | 6.3100% |
| 1890 | #1 | 12,078 | 6.3443% |
| 1889 | #1 | 11,648 | 6.5304% |
| 1888 | #1 | 11,754 | 6.5804% |
| 1887 | #1 | 9,888 | 6.7735% |
| 1886 | #1 | 9,889 | 6.8420% |
| 1885 | #1 | 9,128 | 6.8603% |
| 1884 | #1 | 9,217 | 7.1439% |
| 1883 | #1 | 8,012 | 7.1331% |
| 1882 | #1 | 8,148 | 7.5551% |
| 1881 | #1 | 6,919 | 7.5245% |
| 1880 | #1 | 7,065 | 7.7642% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | #13,358 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2014 | #13,337 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2012 | #11,749 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #13,554 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #7,974 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2006 | #7,806 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2005 | #7,475 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2004 | #3,193 | 31 | 0.0016% |
| 2003 | #7,621 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2002 | #5,950 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2001 | #5,313 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2000 | #6,655 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1999 | #5,909 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1998 | #4,799 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1997 | #4,853 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1996 | #4,123 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1995 | #4,703 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1994 | #5,742 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1993 | #3,593 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1992 | #2,790 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 1991 | #2,272 | 32 | 0.0016% |
| 1990 | #1,771 | 45 | 0.0022% |
| 1989 | #1,264 | 74 | 0.0037% |
| 1988 | #1,541 | 48 | 0.0025% |
| 1987 | #1,158 | 69 | 0.0037% |
| 1986 | #1,467 | 47 | 0.0026% |
| 1985 | #1,144 | 67 | 0.0036% |
| 1984 | #1,234 | 56 | 0.0031% |
| 1983 | #1,211 | 57 | 0.0032% |
| 1982 | #1,068 | 73 | 0.0040% |
| 1981 | #1,119 | 67 | 0.0037% |
| 1980 | #1,303 | 52 | 0.0029% |
| 1979 | #1,112 | 65 | 0.0038% |
| 1978 | #1,129 | 61 | 0.0037% |
| 1977 | #1,232 | 52 | 0.0032% |
| 1976 | #1,064 | 62 | 0.0040% |
| 1975 | #1,015 | 66 | 0.0042% |
| 1974 | #1,057 | 61 | 0.0039% |
| 1973 | #1,117 | 54 | 0.0035% |
| 1972 | #932 | 74 | 0.0046% |
| 1971 | #880 | 86 | 0.0049% |
| 1970 | #816 | 99 | 0.0053% |
| 1969 | #755 | 108 | 0.0060% |
| 1968 | #744 | 101 | 0.0058% |
| 1967 | #665 | 127 | 0.0073% |
| 1966 | #716 | 108 | 0.0061% |
| 1965 | #642 | 136 | 0.0073% |
| 1964 | #667 | 134 | 0.0067% |
| 1963 | #670 | 137 | 0.0067% |
| 1962 | #614 | 158 | 0.0076% |
| 1961 | #612 | 168 | 0.0079% |
| 1960 | #605 | 168 | 0.0079% |
| 1959 | #601 | 169 | 0.0079% |
| 1958 | #648 | 141 | 0.0066% |
| 1957 | #573 | 182 | 0.0084% |
| 1956 | #632 | 145 | 0.0069% |
| 1955 | #611 | 148 | 0.0072% |
| 1954 | #567 | 168 | 0.0082% |
| 1953 | #599 | 146 | 0.0074% |
| 1952 | #555 | 159 | 0.0082% |
| 1951 | #536 | 161 | 0.0086% |
| 1950 | #634 | 119 | 0.0066% |
| 1949 | #513 | 169 | 0.0095% |
| 1948 | #514 | 164 | 0.0093% |
| 1947 | #497 | 184 | 0.0101% |
| 1946 | #470 | 186 | 0.0115% |
| 1945 | #426 | 198 | 0.0147% |
| 1944 | #377 | 253 | 0.0186% |
| 1943 | #384 | 254 | 0.0178% |
| 1942 | #363 | 278 | 0.0201% |
| 1941 | #329 | 315 | 0.0256% |
| 1940 | #328 | 303 | 0.0261% |
| 1939 | #341 | 272 | 0.0246% |
| 1938 | #331 | 284 | 0.0256% |
| 1937 | #321 | 288 | 0.0270% |
| 1936 | #313 | 292 | 0.0282% |
| 1935 | #328 | 277 | 0.0266% |
| 1934 | #313 | 302 | 0.0292% |
| 1933 | #298 | 318 | 0.0321% |
| 1932 | #305 | 330 | 0.0316% |
| 1931 | #306 | 325 | 0.0313% |
| 1930 | #308 | 340 | 0.0310% |
| 1929 | #306 | 327 | 0.0304% |
| 1928 | #330 | 294 | 0.0265% |
| 1927 | #345 | 283 | 0.0251% |
| 1926 | #352 | 272 | 0.0245% |
| 1925 | #368 | 260 | 0.0233% |
| 1924 | #412 | 224 | 0.0198% |
| 1923 | #425 | 203 | 0.0185% |
| 1922 | #450 | 186 | 0.0171% |
| 1921 | #451 | 187 | 0.0170% |
| 1920 | #430 | 195 | 0.0183% |
| 1919 | #482 | 154 | 0.0157% |
| 1918 | #457 | 169 | 0.0167% |
| 1917 | #448 | 159 | 0.0172% |
| 1916 | #437 | 164 | 0.0184% |
| 1915 | #430 | 159 | 0.0187% |
| 1914 | #425 | 127 | 0.0194% |
| 1913 | #375 | 126 | 0.0246% |
| 1912 | #350 | 118 | 0.0274% |
| 1911 | #262 | 98 | 0.0434% |
| 1910 | #238 | 99 | 0.0510% |
| 1909 | #248 | 80 | 0.0488% |
| 1908 | #236 | 79 | 0.0512% |
| 1907 | #252 | 70 | 0.0477% |
| 1906 | #225 | 76 | 0.0571% |
| 1905 | #239 | 68 | 0.0514% |
| 1904 | #252 | 58 | 0.0453% |
| 1903 | #230 | 63 | 0.0528% |
| 1902 | #249 | 56 | 0.0457% |
| 1901 | #231 | 58 | 0.0545% |
| 1900 | #232 | 75 | 0.0498% |
| 1899 | #236 | 50 | 0.0471% |
| 1898 | #251 | 50 | 0.0408% |
| 1897 | #211 | 63 | 0.0559% |
| 1896 | #242 | 57 | 0.0477% |
| 1895 | #261 | 47 | 0.0400% |
| 1894 | #251 | 48 | 0.0415% |
| 1893 | #232 | 55 | 0.0490% |
| 1892 | #251 | 50 | 0.0410% |
| 1891 | #259 | 39 | 0.0385% |
| 1890 | #293 | 35 | 0.0315% |
| 1889 | #262 | 41 | 0.0371% |
| 1888 | #248 | 50 | 0.0414% |
| 1887 | #237 | 47 | 0.0463% |
| 1886 | #305 | 32 | 0.0289% |
| 1885 | #271 | 38 | 0.0353% |
| 1884 | #293 | 36 | 0.0315% |
| 1883 | #292 | 32 | 0.0306% |
| 1882 | #314 | 30 | 0.0264% |
| 1881 | #301 | 29 | 0.0288% |
| 1880 | #332 | 27 | 0.0244% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
