Mary
Peaked at #1 nationally in 1880, based on real US Social Security Administration birth records.
Girls vs. boys, all-time
Since 1880, Mary has been recorded >99% of the time for girls and <1% of the time for boys.
Meaning & origin
Mary is the English form of the Hebrew name Miriam, whose exact meaning is debated among scholars, with "bitter," "beloved," and "wished-for child" all proposed. It entered English through the Greek Maria and Latin Maria, gaining enormous popularity across Christian Europe as the name of the mother of Jesus.
Notable people & culture
Mary, Queen of Scots and England's Queen Mary I and Mary II carried the name into royal history, while Mary Shelley gave the world "Frankenstein." More recent namesakes include singer Mary J. Blige and actress Mary Tyler Moore. Common variants and nicknames include Maria, Marie, Molly, and Polly.
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Mary — Girls (United States)
StablePeak rank
#1
in 1880
Current rank
#132
in 2024
Years tracked
145
1880–2024
Trend
Stable
Mary was already at its most popular for girls in 1880 (the earliest year in this data, ranked #1), with 7,065 babies given the name that year.
Over the last 10 years of data, its rank has slipped from #120 (2014) to #132 (2024) — a 9% drop.
As of 2024, Mary ranks #132 nationally for girls, with 2,196 babies given the name that year.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #132 | 2,196 |
| 2023 | #133 | 2,081 |
| 2022 | #134 | 2,116 |
| 2021 | #132 | 2,100 |
| 2020 | #123 | 2,229 |
| 2019 | #126 | 2,239 |
| 2018 | #126 | 2,369 |
| 2017 | #126 | 2,424 |
Mary — Boys (United States)
StablePeak rank
#211
in 1897
Last ranked
#13358
in 2020
Years tracked
132
1880–2020
Trend
Stable
Tracked since 1880, Mary reached its peak popularity for boys in 1897, ranking #211 nationally with 63 babies given the name that year.
Mary hasn't appeared among the national top ranks for boys since 2020, when it stood at #13358.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | #13,358 | 5 |
| 2014 | #13,337 | 5 |
| 2012 | #11,749 | 6 |
| 2010 | #13,554 | 5 |
| 2007 | #7,974 | 10 |
| 2006 | #7,806 | 10 |
| 2005 | #7,475 | 10 |
| 2004 | #3,193 | 31 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, National Data, 1880–2024.
Similar trajectory
Other names that peaked around the same era and rose or fell on a comparable curve.
Based on US data — girls' names only.
Common Questions
When was Mary most popular?
Mary was most popular in 1880, when it ranked #1 nationally for girls — the highest rank it has reached in this data.
Is Mary becoming more or less popular?
For girls, it's currently stable; for boys, it's currently stable, based on the last decade of SSA data.
How many babies have been named Mary?
At least 4,154,332 babies have been recorded with the name Mary in the US since 1880, according to Social Security Administration birth records.
Looking for more name ideas like Mary? Try the Baby Name Generator or compare it against other names on the Name Trends hub.