Mary is a

feminine Femininity (also called womanliness) is a set of attributes, behaviors, and roles generally associated with women and girls. Femininity can be understood as socially constructed, and there is also some evidence that some behaviors considered fe ...

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a ...

, the English form of the name Maria, which was in turn a

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through ...

form of the Greek name grc, Μαρία, María, label=none or grc, Μαριάμ, Mariam, label=none, found in the

Septuagint The Greek Old Testament, or Septuagint (, ; from the la, septuaginta, lit=seventy; often abbreviated ''70''; in Roman numerals, LXX), is the earliest extant Greek translation of books from the Hebrew Bible. It includes several books beyond t ...

and

New Testament The New Testament grc, Ἡ Καινὴ Διαθήκη, transl. ; la, Novum Testamentum. (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus, as well as events in first-century Chris ...

. The latter reflects the original Hebrew pronunciation of the name (

Masoretic The Masoretic Text (MT or 𝕸; he, נֻסָּח הַמָּסוֹרָה, Nūssāḥ Hammāsōrā, lit. 'Text of the Tradition') is the authoritative Hebrew and Aramaic text of the 24 books of the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) in Rabbinic Judaism. ...

pronunciation ), as attested by the Septuagint. The vowel "a" in a closed unaccented syllable later became "i", as seen in other names such as "Bil'am" (

Balaam Balaam (; , Standard ''Bīlʿam'' Tiberian ''Bīlʿām'') is a diviner in the Torah ( Pentateuch) whose story begins in Chapter 22 of the Book of Numbers (). Ancient references to Balaam consider him a non-Israelite, a prophet, and the son of ...

) and "Shimshon" (

Samson Samson (; , '' he, Šīmšōn, label= none'', "man of the sun") was the last of the judges of the ancient Israelites mentioned in the Book of Judges (chapters 13 to 16) and one of the last leaders who "judged" Israel before the institution o ...

Etymology

The name may have originated from the

Egyptian language The Egyptian language or Ancient Egyptian ( ) is a dead Afro-Asiatic language that was spoken in ancient Egypt. It is known today from a large corpus of surviving texts which were made accessible to the modern world following the deciphe ...

; it is likely derivative of the root , meaning "love; beloved"A. Maas
"The Name of Mary"
''

The Catholic Encyclopedia The ''Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the Constitution, Doctrine, Discipline, and History of the Catholic Church'' (also referred to as the ''Old Catholic Encyclopedia'' and the ''Original Catholic Encyclopedia'') i ...

'' (1912), citing Fr. von Hummelauer (''in Exod. et Levit.'', Paris, 1897, p. 161) (compare , "Merit-Amun", i.e. "beloved of

Amun Amun (; also ''Amon'', ''Ammon'', ''Amen''; egy, jmn, reconstructed as ( Old Egyptian and early Middle Egyptian) → (later Middle Egyptian) → ( Late Egyptian), cop, Ⲁⲙⲟⲩⲛ, Amoun) romanized: ʾmn) was a major ancient Egypt ...

"). The name was early etymologized as containing the Hebrew root , meaning "bitter" (cf.

myrrh Myrrh (; from Semitic, but see '' § Etymology'') is a gum-resin extracted from a number of small, thorny tree species of the genus '' Commiphora''. Myrrh resin has been used throughout history as a perfume, incense and medicine. Myrrh m ...

), or , meaning "rebellious". St. Jerome (writing ), following

Eusebius of Caesarea Eusebius of Caesarea (; grc-gre, Εὐσέβιος ; 260/265 – 30 May 339), also known as Eusebius Pamphilus (from the grc-gre, Εὐσέβιος τοῦ Παμφίλου), was a Greek historian of Christianity, exegete, and Chris ...

, translates the name as "drop of the sea" ( in

), from the Hebrew hbo, מר, mar, drop, label=none (cf. Isaiah 40:15) and hbo, ים, yam, sea, label=none. This translation was subsequently rendered ("star of the sea") due to scribal error, whence Our Lady's title Star of the Sea.

Rashi Shlomo Yitzchaki ( he, רבי שלמה יצחקי; la, Salomon Isaacides; french: Salomon de Troyes, 22 February 1040 – 13 July 1105), today generally known by the acronym Rashi (see below), was a medieval French rabbi and author of a compre ...

, an 11th-century Jewish commentator on the Bible, wrote that the name was given to the sister of Moses because of the Egyptians' harsh treatment of Jews in Egypt. Rashi wrote that the Israelites lived in Egypt for 210 years, including 86 years of cruel enslavement that began at the time Moses' elder sister was born. Therefore, the girl was called Miriam, because the Egyptians made life bitter ( hbo, מַר, mar, label=none) for her people.

Usage

Possible use of ''Maria'' as a

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι� ...

given name is recorded for the third century. The English form ''Mary'' arises by adoption of French into

Middle English Middle English (abbreviated to ME) is a form of the English language that was spoken after the Norman conquest of 1066, until the late 15th century. The English language underwent distinct variations and developments following the Old Englis ...

Wycliffe's Bible Wycliffe's Bible is the name now given to a group of Bible translations into Middle English that were made under the direction of English theologian John Wycliffe. They appeared over a period from approximately 1382 to 1395. These Bible translat ...

still has ''Marie'', with the modern spelling current from the 16th century, found in the

Tyndale Bible The Tyndale Bible generally refers to the body of biblical translations by William Tyndale into Early Modern English, made . Tyndale's Bible is credited with being the first Bible translation in the English language to work directly from Heb ...

(1525),

Coverdale Bible The Coverdale Bible, compiled by Myles Coverdale and published in 1535, was the first complete Modern English translation of the Bible (not just the Old Testament or New Testament), and the first complete printed translation into English (cf. ...

(1535) and later translations. The name ''Maria'' was also given in Great Britain, with the traditional pronunciation of (occasionally reflected in the spelling variant '' Mariah''). Mary is still among the top 100 names for baby girls born in Ireland, common amongst Christians there and also popularised amongst Protestants specifically, with regard to Queen Mary II, co-monarch and wife of William III. Mary was the 179th most popular name for girls born in England and Wales in 2007, ranking behind other versions of the name. In the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...

, ''Mary'' was consistently the most popular name for girls from 1880 until 1961. It first fell below the top 100 most popular names in 2009. By contrast, the latinate (especially Spanish) form rose into the top 100 in 1944, peaking at rank 31 in the 1970s, but also falling below rank 100 once again in 2012. The name Mary remains more popular in the

Southern United States The Southern United States (sometimes Dixie, also referred to as the Southern States, the American South, the Southland, or simply the South) is a geographic and cultural region of the United States of America. It is between the Atlantic Ocean ...

than elsewhere in the country. Mary was the 15th most popular name for girls born in

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = " Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County , LargestMetro = Greater Birmingham , area_total_km2 = 135,7 ...

in 2007, the 22nd most popular name for girls born in

Mississippi Mississippi () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the north by Tennessee; to the east by Alabama; to the south by the Gulf of Mexico; to the southwest by Louisiana; and to the northwest by Arkansas. Miss ...

in 2007, the 44th most popular name for girls in

North Carolina North Carolina () is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 28th largest and List of states and territories of the United ...

, the 33rd most popular name for girls in

South Carolina )''Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = ...

, and the 26th most popular name for girls in

Tennessee Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 36th-largest by ...

. Mary was still the most common name for women and girls in the United States in the 1990 census. '' Mariah'' had a short-lived burst of popularity after 1990, when singer

Mariah Carey Mariah Carey (; born March 27, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. Referred to as the " Songbird Supreme", she is noted for her five-octave vocal range, melismatic singing style and signature use of the w ...

first topped the charts, peaking at rank 62 in 1998. '' Molly'', a pet form, was ranked as the 29th most popular name there and spelling variant Mollie at No. 107; Maria was ranked at No. 93; Maryam was ranked at No. 116 as of 2007.Baby Planners
/ref>

People

Biblical figures

New Testament people named Mary The name ''Mary'' (Greek ' or ') appears 54 times in the New Testament, in 49 verses. It was the single most popular female name among Palestinian Jews of the time, borne by about one in four women, and most of the New Testament references to ''M ...

: **

Mary, mother of Jesus Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, translit=María; la, Maria; cop, Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, translit=Maria was a first-century Jews, Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Saint Joseph, Jose ...

Mary Magdalene Mary Magdalene (sometimes called Mary of Magdala, or simply the Magdalene or the Madeleine) was a woman who, according to the four canonical gospels, traveled with Jesus as one of his followers and was a witness to his crucifixion and resurre ...

, a disciple of Jesus **

Mary of Bethany Mary of Bethany is a biblical figure mentioned only by name in the Gospel of John in the Christian New Testament. Together with her siblings Lazarus and Martha, she is described by John as living in the village of Bethany, a small village in Jud ...

, a follower of Jesus, considered by Western medieval tradition to be Mary Magdalene **

Mary of Clopas According to the Gospel of John, Mary of Clopas ( grc, Μαρία ἡ τοῦ Κλωπᾶ, ''María hē tou Clōpá'') was one of the women present at the crucifixion of Jesus and bringing supplies for his funeral. The expression ''Mary of Clop ...

, a follower of Jesus ** Mary, mother of James the younger (or lesser) **

Mary, mother of John Mark Mary, mother of John Mark is mentioned in the Acts 12:12, which says that, after his escape from prison, Peter went to her house: "When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many wer ...

Mary of Rome Mary of Rome was a 1st century Christian woman mentioned in Paul the Apostle's Epistle to the Romans (16:6). She is said to have treated Paul with special kindness, and to have "laboured much among" the early Christian community. Although it has ...

** Salome (disciple), a follower of Jesus, in medieval tradition Mary Salome

Royalty

Mary of Woodstock Mary of Woodstock (11 March 1278 – before 8 July 1332) was the seventh named daughter of Edward I of England and Eleanor of Castile. She was a nun at Amesbury Priory, but lived very comfortably thanks to a generous allowance from her parents. ...

(1278–1332), daughter of King Edward I of England *

Mary, Queen of Hungary Mary, also known as Maria of Anjou (, , ; 137117 May 1395), reigned as Queen of Hungary and Croatia (officially 'king') between 1382 and 1385, and from 1386 until her death. She was the daughter of Louis the Great, King of Hungary and Poland ...

(1371–1395), Queen of Hungary and Croatia, daughter of Louis I the Great of Hungary *

Mary Tudor, Queen of France Mary Tudor (; 18 March 1496 – 25 June 1533) was an English princess who was briefly Queen of France as the third wife of King Louis XII. Louis was more than 30 years her senior. Mary was the fifth child of Henry VII of England and Elizabeth ...

(1496–1533), daughter of Henry VII of England *

Mary of Guise Mary of Guise (french: Marie de Guise; 22 November 1515 – 11 June 1560), also called Mary of Lorraine, was a French noblewoman of the House of Guise, a cadet branch of the House of Lorraine and one of the most powerful families in France. Sh ...

(1515–1560), Queen Consort of James V of Scotland and mother of Mary, Queen of Scots *

Mary I of England Mary I (18 February 1516 – 17 November 1558), also known as Mary Tudor, and as "Bloody Mary" by her Protestant opponents, was Queen of England and Ireland from July 1553 and Queen of Spain from January 1556 until her death in 1558. She ...

(1516–1558) *

Mary, Queen of Scots Mary, Queen of Scots (8 December 1542 – 8 February 1587), also known as Mary Stuart or Mary I of Scotland, was Queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 until her forced abdication in 1567. The only surviving legitimate child of James V of S ...

(1542–1587), mother of James I of England * Princess Mary of England (1605–1607), daughter of James VI and I *

Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange Mary, Princess Royal (Mary Henrietta Stuart; 4 November 1631 – 24 December 1660), was an English princess, a member of the House of Stuart, and by marriage Princess of Orange and Countess of Nassau. She acted as regent for her minor son from 1 ...

(1631–1660), daughter of Charles I of England *

Mary of Modena Mary of Modena ( it, Maria Beatrice Eleonora Anna Margherita Isabella d'Este; ) was Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland as the second wife of James II and VII. A devout Roman Catholic, Mary married the widower James, who was then the younger ...

(1658–1718), Queen Consort of King James II of England and VII of Scotland * Queen Mary II of England (1662–1694), daughter of James VII and II, Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland, wife of King William III and joint ruler with him * Princess Mary of Great Britain (1723–1772), daughter of George II of Great Britain *

Princess Mary, Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh Princess Mary, Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh (25 April 1776 – 30 April 1857) was the eleventh child and fourth daughter of King George III of the United Kingdom and his consort Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. She married her first cou ...

(1776–1857), daughter of George III of the United Kingdom *

Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge Princess Mary Adelaide Wilhelmina Elizabeth of Cambridge (27 November 1833 – 27 October 1897), later Duchess of Teck, was a member of the British royal family. She was one of the first royals to patronise a wide range of charities. Mary Ade ...

(1833–1897), granddaughter of George III of the United Kingdom *

Mary of Teck Mary of Teck (Victoria Mary Augusta Louise Olga Pauline Claudine Agnes; 26 May 186724 March 1953) was Queen of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, from 6 May 1910 until 20 January 1936 as the wife of King- ...

(1867–1953), Queen Consort of King George V of the United Kingdom *

Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood (Victoria Alexandra Alice Mary; 25 April 1897 – 28 March 1965), was a member of the British royal family. She was the only daughter of King George V and Queen Mary, the sister of Kings Edward VIII ...

(1897–1965), daughter of George V of the United Kingdom *

Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark, Countess of Monpezat, (born Mary Elizabeth Donaldson; 5 February 1972) is the wife of Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark. Frederik is the heir apparent to the throne, which means that should he succeed, Mary ...

(born 1972), Australian-born wife of Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark

Non-royal aristocrats

* Mary, Countess of Blois (1200–1241), daughter of Walter of Avesnes and Margaret of Blois *

Mary of Guelders Mary of Guelders (; c. 1434/1435 – 1 December 1463) was Queen of Scotland by marriage to King James II of Scotland. She ruled as regent of Scotland from 1460 to 1463. Background She was the daughter of Arnold, Duke of Guelders, and Cath ...

(), daughter of Arnold, Duke of Guelders *

Mary of Burgundy Mary (french: Marie; nl, Maria; 13 February 1457 – 27 March 1482), nicknamed the Rich, was a member of the House of Valois-Burgundy who ruled a collection of states that included the duchies of Limburg, Brabant, Luxembourg, the counties of ...

(1457–1482), daughter of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy

Others

* Mary (slave) (died 1838), an American teenage slave executed for murder *

Mary Abbott (artist) Mary Lee Abbott (July 27, 1921 – August 23, 2019) was an American artist, known as a member of the New York School of abstract expressionists in the late 1940s and 1950s. Her abstract and figurative work were also influenced by her time sp ...

(1921–2019), American artist *

Mary Abbott (golfer) Mary Perkins Ives Abbott (October 17, 1857 in Salem, Massachusetts – February 9, 1904 in Miami, Florida) was an American writer, golfer, reviewer and novelist. After marrying Charles Abbott, Mary moved to Calcutta, India (now Kolkata) with him. ...

(1857–1904), American golfer * Mary Bethune Abbott (1823–1898), wife of Sir John Abbott, the third Prime Minister of Canada *

Mary Ogden Abbott Mary Ogden Abbott (October 12, 1894 – May 11, 1981) was an American wood carving and line drawing artist, world traveler, equestrian and an early Grand Canyon River runner. Early life Mary Ogden Abbott was born in Concord, Massachusetts on Oct ...

(1894–1981), American artist, traveler and equestrian *

Mary Adams (activist) Mary G. Adams (born 1938) is an American tax activist from Maine. Adams successfully led the effort to repeal Maine's statewide property tax in the mid-1970s. She led a failed 2006 referendum effort to enact a Taxpayer Bill of Rights in the state ...

(born 1938), tax activist who led the repeal of Maine's statewide property tax and efforts to enact a Taxpayer Bill of Rights *

Mary Adams (actress) Mary Marguerite Adams aka June Mary Adams (1910–1973) was an American actress. She is best known as a television character actor from the 1950s. She was a regular, usually cast as a dowdy nurse or wife, and is best remembered as the day nurse ...

(1910–1973), American actress *

Mary Adams (broadcaster) Mary Grace Agnes Adams (''née'' Campin; 10 March 1898 – 15 May 1984) was an English television producer, programme director and administrator who worked for the BBC. She was instrumental in setting up the BBC's television service both before a ...

(1898–1984), administrator who helped to develop the BBC's television service in the 1950s * Mary Adams (codebreaker) (codebreaker, 1922–2010), Scottish interceptor for Bletchley Park during World War II * Mary Adams (educator) (1823–1898), Canadian women's education reformer * Mary Jane Adams (1840–1902), Irish poet * Mary Kay Adams (born 1962), American television actress * Mary Kawennatakie Adams (1917–1999), First Nations basketmaker * Mary Newbury Adams (1837–1901), American women's suffragist and education advocate– * Mary Ajami (1888–1965), Syrian writer * Mary Baker (1842–1856), English painter * Mary Ann Baker (1831–1921), American composer and singer * Mary E. Baker (1923–1995), African-American community activist * Mary Landon Baker (1901–1961), American socialite and heiress famous for her romantic life *

Mary Lou Baker Mary Lou Baker (born 1914–1965) was a member of the Florida House of Representatives and a women's rights activist. Early life Born in Utah, Baker moved to Florida in 1925, where her father served as a judge and her mother headed the Florid ...

(1914–1965), member of the Florida House of Representatives and women's rights activist * Bonnie Baker (baseball) (Mary Geraldine Baker, 1918–2003), American baseball player *

Mary Beard (classicist) Dame Winifred Mary Beard, (born 1 January 1955) is an English scholar of Ancient Rome. She is a trustee of the British Museum and formerly held a personal professorship of Classics at the University of Cambridge. She is a fellow of Newnham Co ...

(born 1955), English scholar of Ancient Rome *

Mary Ritter Beard Mary Ritter Beard (August 5, 1876 – August 14, 1958) was an American historian, author, women's suffrage activist, and women's history archivist who was also a lifelong advocate of social justice. As a Progressive Era reformer, Beard wa ...

(1876–1958), American historian, author, women's suffrage activist, and women's history archivist * Mary Lincoln Beckwith (1898–1975), prominent descendant of Abraham Lincoln *

Mary Kay Bergman Mary Kay Bergman (June 5, 1961 – November 11, 1999), also credited as Shannen Cassidy, was an American voice actress and voice-over teacher. She was the lead female voice actress on ''South Park'' from the show's 1997 debut until her death. Thr ...

(1961–1999), American voice actress * Mary E. Black (1895–1988), American-Canadian occupational therapist, teacher, master weaver and writer * Mary Bright (1954–2002), Scottish curtain designer *

Mary Lee Cagle Mary Lee (Harris) Cagle (12 September 1864 – 1955), sometimes called the Mother of Holiness in West Texas, was one of the first influential women and pastors in the early Church of the Nazarene. She was first married to the Rev. Robert Lee Harris ...

(1864–1955), married name Mary Harris, pastor * Mary Carey, Lady Carey (), author and poet *

Mary L. Coloe Sister Mary Coloe (born 1949) is an Australian religious sister and New Testament biblical scholar who specializes in the Gospel of John. She is a member of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary, a Roman Catholic religious order ...

(born 1949), biblical scholar * Mary Costa (born 1930), American opera singer and actress * Mary Lincoln Crume (1775–), aunt of American President Abraham Lincoln *

Moll Davis Mary "Moll" Davis (c. 1648 – 1708), also spelt Davies or Davys, was a courtesan and mistress of King Charles II of England. She was an actress and entertainer before and during her role as royal mistress. Early life Mary Davis was born in ...

(), actress and mistress of Charles II of Great Britain * Mary Davis (actress), American silent film actress *

Mary Davis (artist) Mary Davis, Lady Davis (née Halford; 22 March 1866 – 30 October 1941) was a British artist known as a designer and painter of fans. Biography Davis was born in London and studied art at the Ridley Art School. She exhibited lan ...

(1866–1941), English artist *

Mary E. P. Davis Mary E. P. Davis (1840–1924) was a Canadian-born American nursing instructor and a founder of the ''American Journal of Nursing'' (''AJN''). Biography Davis, along with Sophia French Palmer, created the ''AJN'' in 1899, with the first issue g ...

(1840–1924), American nursing instructor * Mary Davis (activist) (born 1954), Special Olympics organiser and candidate in the Irish presidential election, 2011 *

Mary Bond Davis Mary Bond Davis (born June 3, 1958) is a singer, actor, and dancer from Los Angeles, California. She is best known for her performance as Motormouth Maybelle in the 2002 Broadway run of Hairpsray. Biography Davis began her career at the age of ...

(born 1958), American singer, actor and dancer * Mary Gould Davis (1882–1956), American author, librarian, storyteller and editor * Mary Lund Davis (1922–2008), modernist architect * Mary Davis, singer of

the S.O.S. Band The S.O.S. Band (sometimes written as S.O.S. Band; abbreviation for Sounds of Success) is an American R&B and electro-funk group who gained fame in the 1980s. They are best known for the songs "Take Your Time (Do It Right)", "Just Be Good to M ...

* Mary Baker Eddy (1821–1910), born Mary Baker, founder of

Christian Science Christian Science is a set of beliefs and practices associated with members of the Church of Christ, Scientist. Adherents are commonly known as Christian Scientists or students of Christian Science, and the church is sometimes informally known ...

Mary Fuller Mary Claire Fuller (October 5, 1888 – December 9, 1973) was an American actress active in both stage and silent films. She also was a screenwriter and had several films produced. An early major star, by 1917 she could no longer gain roles ...

(1888–1973), American Silent Film Actress * Mary Fuller (sculptor) (1922–2022), American sculptor and art historian * Mimi Gardner Gates (born 1943), American art historian who is the recent director of the Seattle Art Museum, stepmother of Bill Gates *

Mary Maxwell Gates Mary Ann Maxwell Gates (; July 5, 1929 – June 10, 1994) was an American businesswoman, executive, civic activist, and school teacher. She was the first female president of King County's United Way, the first woman to chair the national Unite ...

(1929–1994), American businesswoman, executive, civic activist, and school teacher, mother of Bill Gates * Mary Gennoy (1951–2004), American activist *

Mary Grant (politician) Mary Grant (6 August 1928 – 18 September 2016) was a Ghanaian physician and politician. She was Ghana's first Council of State member and also the first Wesley Girls High School alumna to be a medical doctor. Grant was the third Ghanaian woman ...

(1928–2016), Ghanaian politician * Mary Grant (sculptor) (1831–1908), British sculptor *

Mary E. Grant Mary E. Grant (born January 10, 1953 in New Haven, Connecticut) is an American psychiatric nurse and politician who represented the 6th Essex district in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 2003 to 2011. Prior to serving in the Genera ...

(born 1953), American psychiatric nurse and politician *

Mary Pollock Grant Mary Pollock Grant (2 December 1876 - August 1957), also known as Marion Pollock, was a Scottish suffragette,A Guid Cause: The Women's Suffrage Movement in Scotland, by Leah Leneman (1991) Liberal Party politician, missionary and policewoman. ...

(1876–1957), Scottish suffragette, politician, missionary and policewoman * Liz Grant (Mary Elizabeth Grant, born 1930), former Australian pharmacist and politician * Mary Styles Harris (born 1949), geneticist * Mel Harris (Mary Ellen Harris, born 1956), actress *

Mary Harris (musician) Mary Harris is an American keyboardist, singer, songwriter, arranger, and producer. She is currently appearing on stage as a member of the five-time Grammy Award nominated band Ambrosia. Harris, as a member of Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band a ...

, member of the music group Ambrosia *

Mary Packer Harris Mary Packer Harris D.A. (Edin.) (30 July 1891 – 26 August 1978) was a Scottish artist and art teacher with a considerable career in South Australia. History Mary was born in Middlesbrough, Yorkshire the only daughter of musician and beekeepe ...

(1891–1978), Scottish artist and art teacher *

Mary Harris (cricketer) Mary Winifred Harris was the thirteenth Clerk of the New Zealand House of Representatives ("Clerk of the House"). She was appointed Clerk of the House on 10 December 2007, following the resignation of David Graham McGee. She served as Clerk of ...

, New Zealand cricketer *

Mary Johnson Harris Mary may refer to: People * Mary (name), a feminine given name (includes a list of people with the name) Religious contexts * New Testament people named Mary, overview article linking to many of those below * Mary, mother of Jesus, also calle ...

(born 1963), member of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education * Mary Winifred Harris, Clerk of the New Zealand House of Representatives *

Mary Harris (murderer) Mary Harris was an American woman who murdered Adoniram Burroughs. Her trial marked the "first time in a U.S. court-room that expert medical testimony supported a plea of paroxysmal emporary insanity in a murder defense." Biography Mary Harris w ...

, American murderer *

Mary Harron Mary Harron (born January 12, 1953) is a Canadian filmmaker and screenwriter, and former entertainment critic. She gained recognition for her role in writing and directing several independent films, including '' I Shot Andy Warhol'' (1996), ''Am ...

(b. 1953), Canadian film director and screenwriter *

Mary Harron (actress) ''Hearts of the World'' (also known as ''Love's Struggle'') is a 1918 American silent World War I propaganda film written, produced and directed by D. W. Griffith. In an effort to change the American public's neutral stance regarding the war, ...

, silent film era actress, sister of Harrons John and Robert also silent era actors * Mary Henderson (journalist) (1919–2004), Greek-born British journalist and host *

Mary H. J. Henderson Mary H J Henderson (born 1874 – 6 November 1938) was an administrator with Elsie Inglis's Scottish Women's Hospitals for Foreign Service in the Balkans in World War I, earning five medals. She founded social work and civic groups led by women, ...

(1874–1938), administrator with World War I

Scottish Women's Hospitals for Foreign Service The Scottish Women's Hospitals for Foreign Services (SWH) was founded in 1914. It was led by Dr. Elsie Inglis and provided nurses, doctors, ambulance drivers, cooks and orderlies. By the end of World War I, 14 medical units had been outfitted an ...

* Mary Dorothea Heron (), first woman to be admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in Ireland *

Mary MacLean Hindmarsh Mary MacLean Hindmarsh (21 July 1921 – 10 April 2000) was an Australian botanist who worked at the New South Wales University of Technology in Ultimo as a professor of biology. A graduate of the University of New England in Armidale and the ...

, Australian botanist * Mary Hinton (actress) (1896–1979), British actress * Mary Dana Hinton, American university administrator *

Mary Hilliard Hinton Mary Hilliard Hinton (June 7, 1869 – January 6, 1961) was an American painter, historian, clubwoman, and anti-suffragist. She was a leader in North Carolina's Anti-suffragism, anti-suffragist movement and an outspoken white supremacist, co-fou ...

(1869–1961), American historian, painter, and anti-suffragist * Sister Mary Melanie Holliday (1850–1939), American Catholic nun * Mary Hottinger (1893–1978), Scottish translator and author *

Mary Ingalls Mary Amelia Ingalls (January 10, 1865 – October 20, 1928) was born near the town of Pepin, Wisconsin. She was the first child of Caroline and Charles Ingalls and older sister of author Laura Ingalls Wilder, known for her '' Little House'' book ...

(1865–1928), older sister of author

Laura Ingalls Wilder Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder (February 7, 1867 – February 10, 1957) was an American writer, mostly known for the '' Little House on the Prairie'' series of children's books, published between 1932 and 1943, which were based on her childhood ...

Mary E. Ireland Mary E. Ireland (, Haines; pen name, Marie Norman; January 9, 1834 – October 29, 1927) was an American author and translator. Born in Maryland, she lived a busy life in Washington, D.C., looking upon her literary labors as a recreation. Though s ...

(1834–1927), American author, translator, poet *

Mamie Lincoln Isham Mary Todd "Mamie" Lincoln Isham (October 15, 1869 – November 21, 1938) was a granddaughter of Abraham Lincoln, the first daughter of Robert Todd Lincoln and the mother of Lincoln Isham. Early life Mamie was born Mary Todd Lincoln to Mary Harla ...

(1869–1938), granddaughter of Abraham Lincoln * Mary Jackson (Richmond Bread Riot) (), leader of Richmond Bread Riot of 1863 *

Mary Anna Jackson Mary Anna Morrison Jackson (July 21, 1831 – March 24, 1915) was the second wife, and subsequently widow, of Confederate Army general Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. She was widely known as the "Widow of the Confederacy" for the next 50 years. ...

(1831–1915), wife of Confederate Army general Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson * Mary E. Jackson (1867–1923), African-American suffrage activist, YWCA leader and writer * Mary Percy Jackson (1904–2000), Canadian medical doctor *

Mary Jackson (actress) Mary Jackson (November 22, 1910 – December 10, 2005) was an American character actress whose nearly fifty-year career began in 1950 and was spent almost entirely in television. She is best known for the role of the lovelorn Emily Baldwin in '' ...

(1910–2005), film and television actress *

Mary Jackson (engineer) Mary Jackson (née Winston; April 9, 1921 – February 11, 2005) was an American mathematician and aerospace engineer at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), which in 1958 was succeeded by the National Aeronautics and ...

(1921–2005), NASA engineer * Mary Ann Jackson (1923–2003), child actress *

Mary Jackson (artist) Mary Jackson (born 1945) is an African American fiber artist. She is best known for her sweetgrass basket weaving using traditional methods combined with contemporary designs. A native of coastal South Carolina and a descendant of generations of ...

(born 1945), African-American fiber artist * Mary M. Jackson ( 1980s–2010s), American Navy vice admiral * Mary Jemison (1743–1833), British frontierswoman * Mary Johnson (first lady) (), first lady of California *

Mary Johnson (actress) Mary Johnson (born Astrid Maria Carlsson; 11 May 1896 – 15 May 1975) was a Swedish film actress of the silent era. Biography Astrid Maria Carlsson was born in Fors parish, Södermanland, Sweden. She debuted in the 1910s in the theater compan ...

(1896–1975), Swedish silent film performer * Mary Johnson (singer) (1898–1983), African American lowdown blues singer * Mary Johnson (cricketer) (born 1924), English cricketer *

Mary Lea Johnson Mary Lea Johnson Richards (August 20, 1926 – May 3, 1990) was an American heiress, entrepreneur, and Broadway producer. She was a granddaughter of Robert Wood Johnson I (co-founder of Johnson & Johnson), and of Bermudan politician, soldier, an ...

(1926–1990), American theatrical producer, entrepreneur and philanthropist * Mary Johnson (activist) (born 1948), American advocate for disability rights; founded '' Ragged Edge'' magazine * Mary Johnson (writer) (born 1958), American writer and Director of ''A Room of Her Own Foundation'' * Mary Johnson (politician), member of the North Dakota House of Representatives * Mary C. Johnson, one of the first three females to practice law in Georgia * Mary Jane Richardson Jones, American suffragist and activist from Chicago * Mary Lee (born 1921), Scottish singer * Mary Johnson Bailey Lincoln (1844–1921), American science teacher * Mary Harlan Lincoln (1846–1937), daughter of James Harlan, wife of Robert Todd Lincoln, daughter-in-law of Abraham Lincoln *

Mary Todd Lincoln Mary Ann Todd Lincoln (December 13, 1818July 16, 1882) served as First Lady of the United States from 1861 until the assassination of her husband, President Abraham Lincoln in 1865. Mary Lincoln was a member of a large and wealthy, slave-owning ...

(1818–1882), former First Lady of the United States, wife of Abraham Lincoln * Mary Johnson Lowe (1924–1999), American jurist *

Mary Martin Mary Virginia Martin (December 1, 1913 – November 3, 1990) was an American actress and singer. A muse of Rodgers and Hammerstein, she originated many leading roles on stage over her career, including Nellie Forbush in ''South Pacific'' (194 ...

(1913–1990), American actress and singer * Mary Baker McQuesten (1849–1934), Canadian activist *

Maybelle Stephens Mitchell Mary Isabel "Maybelle" Stephens Mitchell (January 13, 1872 – January 25, 1919) was an American suffragist, clubwoman, and activist. Born into a prestigious planting family of Irish Catholic background, she was educated at the Villa Maria Conve ...

(Mary Isabel Stephens Mitchell; 1872–1919), American suffragist *

Mary Morton Mary Morton (21 March 1879 – 15 June 1965) was a British sculptor. Early life and education Morton was born in Stroud, England on 21 March 1879. Her father was George Morton, a surgeon who was born around 1839 in the East Indies. She ...

(1879–1965), British sculptor * Mary K. Okheena (born 1957), Inuvialuit graphic artist *

Mary-Kate Olsen Mary-Kate Olsen (born June 13, 1986) is an American businesswoman, fashion designer, equestrian, and former actress. She began her acting career nine months after her birth, sharing the role of Michelle Tanner with her twin sister Ashley Olsen ...

(born 1986), American fashion designer and former child actress * Mary Paischeff (1899–1975), Finnish ballerina * Mary Felicia Perera (born 1944), Sri Lankan Sinhala cinema actress * Mary Pudlat (1923–2001), Canadian Inuk artist * Mary Quigley (1960–1977), American murder victim *

Mary Quin Mary Quin is the former chief executive at Callaghan Innovation, was an executive at Xerox in New York City, and a dual citizen of the United States and New Zealand. In 1998, while traveling in Yemen her tourist group was kidnapped and four tou ...

, American businesswoman * Mary Rambaran-Olm, specialist in the literature and history of early medieval England *

Mary Ramsey Mary Ramsey (born December 24, 1963) is a member of folk rock duo John & Mary and lead singer and violinist for the American alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs. Ramsey has also worked with other well-known artists such as Jackson Browne, Goo Go ...

(born 1963), American singer-songwriter *

(died 1601), English philanthropist * Mary Rice (wheelchair racer), Irish paralympic athlete * Mary Roberts (author) (1788–1864), author, born London *

Mary Fanton Roberts Mary Fanton Roberts (1864–1956) was an American journalist and writer. She was best known as an editor of women's and decorating magazines. During her long career she was editor of the illustrated monthly ''Demorest's'', editor-in-chief of ''N ...

(1864–1956), American journalist *

Mary Helen Roberts Mary Helen Roberts (born September 14, 1947) is an American politician who is a member of the Democratic Party. She is a former member of the Washington House of Representatives, representing the 21st district from 2005 to 2015. She did not seek ...

(born 1947), American politician in the state of Washington * Mary Wendy Roberts (born 1944), American politician in the state of Oregon * Mary Louise Roberts (1886–1968), New Zealand masseuse, physiotherapist and mountaineer *

Mary Grant Roberts Mary Grant Roberts (15 April 1841 – 27 November 1921) was an Australian zoo owner. Roberts owned Hobart Zoo from when it opened in 1895 until her death in 1921. The zoo was closed in 1937. Life and career Roberts was born in Hobart, Austral ...

(1841–1921), Australian zoo owner *

Cokie Roberts Mary Martha Corinne Morrison Claiborne "Cokie" Roberts (née Boggs; December 27, 1943 – September 17, 2019) was an American journalist and author. Her career included decades as a political reporter and analyst for National Public Radio, PBS, ...

(1943–2019), real name Mary Roberts, American journalist and author * Mary Roos (born 1949), German singer * Mary Jane Seacole (1805–1881), British-Jamaican nurse, healer and businesswoman. * Mary Anne Schwalbe (1934–2009), university administrator and refugee worker *

Mary Shelley Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (; ; 30 August 1797 – 1 February 1851) was an English novelist who wrote the Gothic novel '' Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus'' (1818), which is considered an early example of science fiction. She also ...

(1797–1851), English novelist who wrote the Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus * Mary Silvani (1948–1982), American murder victim * Mary Florence Wells Slater (1864–1941), American entomologist and schoolteacher *

Mary Lou Spiess Mary Lou Spiess ( – June 18, 1992) was an American disability advocate, teacher, and designer of disabled fashion. Biography Mary Lou Spiess was born Mary Lou Crump, around 1931. After graduating from Analy High School in 1947, she attended the ...

(1931–1992), American designer of disabled fashion * Margaret Truman (Mary Margaret Truman, 1924–2008), only daughter of Harry S. Truman * Mary Anne MacLeod Trump (1912–2000), mother of

Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of P ...

Mary L. Trump Mary Lea Trump (born May 3, 1965) is an American psychologist and author. A niece of former president Donald Trump, she has been critical of him as well as the rest of the Trump family. Her 2020 book about him and the family, '' Too Much and Ne ...

(born 1965), psychologist and author; niece of Donald Trump * Mary Frances Tucker (1837–1902), American poet * Mary van Kleeck (1883–1972), American social scientist and socialist * Mary Burke Washington (1926–2014), American economist *

Mary Ball Washington Mary Washington (; born sometime between 1707 and 1709 – August 25, 1789), was the second wife of Augustine Washington, a planter in Virginia, the mother-in-law of Martha Washington, the paternal grandmother of Bushrod Washington, and ...

(1708–1789), mother of U.S. President

George Washington George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of ...

* Mary Helen Washington, American literary scholar * Mary L. Washington (born 1962), Maryland legislator * Mary T. Washington (1906–2005), first African-American woman to be a certified public accountant in the United States *

Mary Wollstonecraft Mary Wollstonecraft (, ; 27 April 1759 – 10 September 1797) was a British writer, philosopher, and advocate of women's rights. Until the late 20th century, Wollstonecraft's life, which encompassed several unconventional personal relationsh ...

(1759–1797), English writer and founding feminist philosopher

References

Citations

General sources

* Rosenkrantz, Linda and Satran, Pamela Redmond (2005). ''Beyond Jennifer and Jason, Madison and Montana'', Fourth Edition. St. Martin's Paperbacks. . * Todd, Loreto (1998). ''Celtic Names for Children''. Irish American Book Company. . * Wallace, Carol (2004). ''The Penguin Classic Baby Name Book''. Penguin. . * Wood, Jamie Martinez (2001). ''¿Cómo te llamas, Baby?'' Berkley. . {{DEFAULTSORT:Mary (Given Name) English feminine given names Feminine given names Given names of Greek language origin Given names Irish feminine given names Scottish feminine given names Welsh feminine given names