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Name Origin

A classic feminine given name with Hebrew origins. It is derived from the name Miriam (מִרְיָם), meaning 'bitterness' or 'beloved'. Mary is strongly associated with Christianity, as it is the name of the mother of Jesus Christ.

hebrewbiblicalchristianclassicfemininereligious

Famous People

Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-1587)

Monarch

  • Queen of Scotland from infancy
  • Claimant to the English throne

Mary Shelley (1797-1851)

Novelist

  • Author of Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus

Mary J. Blige (1971-)

Singer-songwriter and Actress

  • Known as the 'Queen of Hip-Hop Soul'
  • Multiple Grammy Award winner

Mary Cassatt (1844-1926)

Painter, printmaker

  • Impressionist painter known for her depictions of women and children

Mary Leakey (1913-1996)

Paleoanthropologist, archaeologist

  • Discoveries of early hominin fossils in Tanzania