What Does the Name Rosemary Mean?
Rosemary is a girl's name of Latin (herb name) / English compound origin meaning “Herb name: 'dew of the sea'; also read as Rose + Mary.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Rosemary |
|---|---|
| Gender | female |
| Origin | Latin (herb name) / English compound |
| Meaning | Herb name: 'dew of the sea'; also read as Rose + Mary |
| Variants | Rosemarie, Romy, Rosemaria |
| Popularity | A mid-century classic with a gentle modern comeback; it sits around the lower half of the US top 500. |
The meaning and origin of Rosemary
The name Rosemary means “Herb name: 'dew of the sea'; also read as Rose + Mary” and has Latin (herb name) / English compound origins. Taken from the herb rosemary, whose name comes from Latin 'ros marinus' meaning 'dew of the sea,' the given name is also popularly understood as a blend of the names Rose and Mary. Folk etymology reshaped the herb's spelling toward those two names.
Variants and related names
Rosemary is related to several other names you may recognize: Rosemarie, Romy, Rosemaria. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Rosemary?
A mid-century classic with a gentle modern comeback; it sits around the lower half of the US top 500.
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Rosemary mean?+
The name Rosemary means “Herb name: 'dew of the sea'; also read as Rose + Mary” and is of Latin (herb name) / English compound origin.
What is the origin of the name Rosemary?+
Rosemary originates from Latin (herb name) / English compound.
Is Rosemary a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Rosemary has trended in the US over time.
Rosemary by gender
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Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press