What Does the Name Mary Mean?

Mary is a girl's name of Hebrew origin meaning “beloved or bitter (debated).”

Updated June 2026

Name	Mary
Gender	female
Origin	Hebrew
Meaning	beloved or bitter (debated)
Variants	Maria, Marie, Miriam, Mariam, Maryam
Popularity	The most popular US girls' name for much of the 19th and early-to-mid 20th centuries

The meaning and origin of Mary

The name Mary means “beloved or bitter (debated)” and has Hebrew origins. The English form of Maria, from the Hebrew name Miryam, borne by the mother of Jesus and Mary Magdalene in the New Testament. Its exact meaning is uncertain, with proposed senses including 'sea of bitterness,' 'rebelliousness,' and 'wished-for child.'

Variants and related names

Mary is related to several other names you may recognize: Maria, Marie, Miriam, Mariam, Maryam. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.

How popular is the name Mary?

The most popular US girls' name for much of the 19th and early-to-mid 20th centuries

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