Name meaning & stats
Mary
Mary (Aramaic / Hebrew origin). 2,010,582 US babies since 1940, peak 1947. Notable Marys are 2.2× over-represented as politicians.
What it means
No agreed meaning on record
Aramaic / Hebrew
From Miryam, via Greek and Latin.
In US birth records
Peak year: 1947
2,010,582 US babies were named Mary between 1940 and 2025.
Where Marys end up
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Politician | 2.2× | High · 237 people |
| Writer | 1.2× | High · 156 people |
| Actor | 0.6× | High · 118 people |
| Professor | 1.4× | High · 104 people |
Among notable women who are politicians, Marys show up 2.2× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
One more thing…
Mary has a surprise career: 2.8×
Spelling family
The most common spelling: 90% of the family
Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.
Name twins (peaked around 1947)