Mary is a feminine given name of Hebrew origin. It means "sea of bitterness" or "rebelliousness". The name Mary is derived from the Hebrew name Miriam, which was borne by several important women in the Bible, including Moses' sister and the mother of Jesus.
The name Mary has been widely used throughout history and has become one of the most popular names for girls in many parts of the world. In the Middle Ages, it was a common name among the nobility in England, France, and other European countries. During the Renaissance period, Mary became even more popular due to its association with the Virgin Mary, who was a revered figure in Catholic art and literature.
In modern times, the name Mary continues to be popular, particularly among English-speaking countries. It is often associated with traditional values and is seen as a classic, timeless name. Some famous people named Mary include the former U.S. First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln, actresses Mary Tyler Moore and Mary-Kate Olsen, and singer-songwriter Mary J. Blige. Despite its long history and widespread use, the name Mary remains fresh and appealing to many parents seeking a strong, feminine name for their daughters.
The name Mary has been a popular choice for newborn girls in the United States over the past century and a half. According to the statistics provided, there were over 7000 births with the name Mary annually from 1880 to 1958. The highest number of births recorded was in 1912, with an impressive 32304 newborn girls named Mary.
However, like many traditional names, Mary's popularity began to decline after the mid-20th century. From 1959 onwards, there were fewer than 50000 births per year with the name Mary. The lowest number of births recorded was in 2023, with only 2062 newborn girls named Mary.
Despite this decrease in popularity, Mary remains a widely-used name in the United States. Between 1880 and 2023, there were a total of 4136872 births recorded for the name Mary. This demonstrates that while trends may change over time, classic names like Mary continue to be beloved choices for parents across generations.