Maryann is a unique and charming name of Irish origin. It is derived from the Irish name "Máirín", which is itself a diminutive form of the name "Máire". Máire is the Irish version of the Latin name Maria, which ultimately comes from the Hebrew name "Miriam".
The name Maryann has been popular throughout history, with notable figures bearing this name. One famous Maryann was Mary Ann McLeod (1820-1915), a Canadian pioneer who played a significant role in the colonization of the Pacific Northwest. Another well-known Maryann is Mary Ann Evans, better known by her pen name George Eliot, an English novelist and poet of the mid-19th century.
The name Maryann has also been used in popular culture, such as in the television series "Gilligan's Island", where one of the characters was named Mary Ann Summers. This further contributed to the popularity of the name in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s.
In terms of its meaning, Maryann is associated with several interpretations depending on its origin. If it is derived from the Irish Máirín, it means "sea-worthy" or "star of the sea". If it comes from the Latin Maria, it means "bitter", which is thought to be a reference to the original Hebrew name Miriam, who was the sister of Moses and Aaron in the Bible.
Overall, Maryann is a beautiful and distinctive name with a rich history and several interesting meanings. Its Irish origins give it a unique sound and cultural significance, while its association with notable figures and popular culture make it instantly recognizable.
The name Maryann has been a popular choice for parents in the United States over the past century and a half, with its popularity fluctuating over time. The earliest recorded birth of a girl named Maryann in the U.S. was in 1880, with just six births that year.
Over the next few decades, the number of babies named Maryann varied yearly but remained relatively low, ranging from five to nine births per year between 1880 and 1900. However, starting in 1900, the popularity of the name began to increase significantly. That year, there were twenty births, marking a significant jump from the previous years.
The trend continued into the early 20th century, with the number of Maryann births rising each year. By 1914, there were ninety-nine births, and by 1921, that number had more than doubled to 224. The 1930s saw a further increase in popularity, with over 600 births per year from 1932 onwards.
The peak of Maryann's popularity was reached in the late 1930s and early 1940s. In 1937, there were 1,205 births, followed by peaks of 1,926 in 1942 and 2,050 in 1943. However, after World War II, the popularity of the name began to decline.
By the mid-1950s, the number of Maryann births had dropped below 1,000 per year, and it continued to decrease throughout the rest of the century. In the early 21st century, the name's popularity has remained low but steady, with around 100 births per year since 2017.
In total, over the period from 1880 to 2023, there have been 62,741 births of girls named Maryann in the United States. This data demonstrates the changing trends in naming patterns over time and shows that while Maryann was once a popular choice for parents, its popularity has since waned.