What does mary mean?
Mary is a feminine personal name with a long history in English-speaking and many other languages. Its best-known referent is the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, who appears throughout the New Testament and occupies a central place in Christian worship, art, literature, and tradition. Outside explicitly religious contexts, Mary is simply a widely used given name in Britain, the United States, and numerous other countries. It is associated especially with qualities traditionally attributed to the biblical Mary, such as faithfulness, gentleness, and motherhood, although the name is also used without any deliberate religious or cultural reference. References to the Virgin Mary may use forms such as “the Virgin Mary” and “Mother Mary.” As an ordinary personal name, Mary can be used for adults or children and may appear in full names, nicknames, and expressions. The spelling should not be confused with the verb “marry,” which means to become united in marriage.
proper nounMary is a common feminine given name, especially familiar from the biblical figure Mary, the mother of Jesus. It is also used as the title of the Virgin Mary in Christian tradition.
- A feminine personal name.
- A title for the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus in Christian belief.
"Mary opened the door and greeted us with a warm smile."
"Mary studied history at university."
"The carol tells of Mary and Joseph travelling to Bethlehem."
Used only when referring to multiple people named Mary.
"The two Marys met at school and remained close friends."
Mary is one of the world's most enduring names, carried across languages through the enduring story of the Virgin Mary.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does mary come from?
Mary entered English as the name of the biblical figure, with forms such as Marie and Mary appearing during the medieval period. The name ultimately derives from the Hebrew name Maryam, although the precise relationship among its ancient forms and the exact route by which it entered European languages are not entirely straightforward. The form Mary became established in English through medieval Christian usage and later became an independent given name.
How mary is actually used
The name is normally capitalized. In Christian contexts it may be preceded by “the,” as in “the Virgin Mary,” and used without an article in forms such as “Mother Mary.”
Easily confused with mary
Mary is a personal name, whereas marry is a verb meaning to become legally or religiously united in marriage.