Mary

Mary derives from the Latin Maria, itself from the Greek Mariam or Maria, which came into Greek from the Hebrew name Miriam. The original Hebrew meaning is debated, with proposed interpretations including beloved, bitter, or drop of the sea, though none is universally accepted. The name is borne in the New Testament by the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus, and by Mary Magdalene, making it one of the most influential names in Christian tradition and among the most widely used female names in the Western world for centuries. Related forms include Maria, Marie, Marion, Miriam, Marilyn, Molly, and Polly.