Mary at a glance
- Meaning
- “uncertain, perhaps beloved or bitter”
- Gender
- Girl
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- MAIR-ee
- Nicknames
- Molly, Polly, May
- Other forms
- Maria, Marie, Miriam, Moira
Where the name Mary comes from
Mary comes from the Hebrew name Miriam, whose meaning is not known for sure; suggestions include “bitter”, “wished-for child” and an Egyptian word for “beloved”. As the name of Jesus’s mother, it has been one of the most important names in Christian Europe for centuries. England has had two Queen Marys who ruled in their own right, and Scotland had Mary, Queen of Scots.
Famous people named Mary
- Mary Shelley (novelist)