Mary

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ORIGIN & HISTORY

Greek, Maria/Mariam^[1] from Hebrew Miryam^[1]

Mary is the usual English form of Maria, which was the Latin form of the New Testament Greek names Mariam or Maria, from the Hebrew name Miryam. It was most likely originally an Egyptian name, perhaps derived in part from mry (beloved) or mr (love). Mary is the name of several New Testament characters, most importantly Mary the virgin mother of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene. Two queens of England have had this name, as well as a Queen of Scotland, Mary Queen of Scots. Through the centuries, names like Dolores and Mercedes have been created to express aspects of Mary's life and worship.

POPULARITY

Mary is the most popular and enduring of all female Christian names, being the name of the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus Christ, who has been the subject of a cult from earliest times. Consequently, the name was extremely common among early Christians, several saints among them, and by the Middle Ages was well established in every country in Europe at every level of society. It has been popular ever since, it popularity having been almost completely undisturbed by the vagaries of fashion that affect other names

FACTS

• In Ireland and Spanish-language countries, Mary has also been a popular middle name for males, for example, Joseph Mary Plunkett.
• Mary is also used as an affectionate slang term for a gay man in the United States. It may be related to the Spanish term marica derived from Mara.

NAMESAKES

• Mary, a city in Turkmenistan, capital of the Mary Province.
• Mary, a commune of the Sane-et-Loire departement, in France.
• Mary is the subject of many popular songs. Bruce Springsteen alone has used her frequently - Thunder Road, Mary's Place, Mary Queen of Arkansas, Rockaway the Days, The River, and others.

FAMOUS PERSONS

• Mary Chapin Carpenter, musician/performance artist
• Mary Gross, Saturday Night Live cast member
• Mary J. Blige, musician/performance artist
• Mary Todd Lincoln, U.S. First Lady in the 19th Century
• Mary Mastrantonio, actress/entertainer
• Mary McCormack, actress/entertainer
• Mary Pierce, tennis player
• Mary Steenburgen, actress/entertainer
• Mary Adams, 20th century writer
• Mary Adamson, 20th century writer
• Mary Allen, artist
• Mary Wilson Alloway, 20th century writer
• Mary Ames, 20th century writer
• Mary Amora, musician/performance artist
• Mary Anderson, 1986 Miss WISCONSIN
• Mary Andrews, 20th century writer
• Mary Ann Currier, contemporary artist in the latter 20th century
• Mary Antin, 20th century writer
• Mary Armstrong, 20th century writer
• Mary Astor, actress/entertainer
• Mary Austin, 20th century writer

OTHER MARY'S

Mary Hart, Mary Johnson, Mary Morrison, Mary Scheer, Mary Walker, Mary Smith, Mary Williams, Mary Jones, Mary Brown, Mary Davis, Mary Miller, Mary Wilson, Mary Moore, Mary Taylor, Mary Aaberg, Mary Aabu-safi, Mary Aadland, Mary Aagersen, Mary Aagerstoun, Mary Aaker, Mary Aakre, Mary Aal, Mary Aalsburg, Mary Aalund, Mary Aamodt, Mary Aamoth, Mary Aandal, Mary Aanenson, Mary Aanstoos, Mary Aarant, Mary Aars, Mary Aaskov, Mary Abahazy, Mary Abalan, Mary Abaza, Mary Abbuthalha, Mary Abel, Mary Allzoya, Mary Amirault, Mary B-austin, Mary Baakrime, Mary Bantz, Mary Edith, Mary Gail, Mary Gale, Mary Ilene, Mary Jacklyn, Mary Jacquelyn, Mary Lanchard, Mary Rae, More results

NOTES

Author: Lena Pheonix, +Sabertooth