Mary

Mary is one of the more traditional names, having Biblical roots and is the name of Jesus’ mother. However, because the birth of Christ is so connected to Christmas, Mary is definitely one of the more festive names on the list.

Detailed Meaning

Mary is a Middle English form of the Hebrew name Miriam, and most sources say that the name means “bitterness”. Mary was the name of the Mother of Christ, the Virgin Mary. As a result the name was very popular among early Christians. The name’s popularity maintained high, until the 1960s when it suffered a sharp decline.

Famous People With This Name

Aside from the Virgin Mary, there are many famous people with this name: Mary Boleyn, sister to Anne Boleyn, Mary, Queen of Scots, Mary J. Blige, the singer, Mary Pickford, the silent film actress, Mary Wollstonecraft, the women’s rights advocate who is also mother to Mary Shelley, writer of “Frankenstein.”

Possible Nicknames

One possible nickname idea could be Mare, but that might be confused with the English word that means female horse. Because it ends with a “Y,” it is also difficult to put an affectionate twist to the name.

Related Names

Related names include Maria, Mariam and Miryam. The name most likely also inspired the nam Mariah.

Stories Featuring This Name

The story of the Virgin Mary is one that is known by many. The wife of Joseph, she managed to give birth to the baby Jesus despite the fact that she was a virgin – this is known as the immaculate conception. She gave birth in a farm in Bethlehem and was given gifts by The Three Wise Men.