Baby Name Popularity Profile

Mary

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Mary.

✦ Bitter, rebellious, or beloved 🌍 Hebrew, Latin biblical traditional
National Rank (2025) #125
All-Time Peak Rank #1 Achieved 1880
Total U.S. Births 4,141,481 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 0.1% Boy / 99.9% Girl Female Archetype
First Recorded 1880 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 1920s 73,984 births in 1921
💡 The Mary Vibe: Considered a Perennial Favorite. A historic staple that has maintained dominant national popularity for over half a century.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning Bitter, rebellious, or beloved
Language Origin Hebrew, Latin
Origin Type multiple
Derived from the Hebrew name Miriam, with debated meanings including 'bitter', 'rebellious', or 'beloved'. It was later Latinized as Maria.
Common Nicknames
May Molly Polly
Alternative Spellings
Maria Marie Miriam Mairi
Pronunciation: MAIR-ee
Themes & Categories
biblical traditional
Etymology confidence: High

📖 The Story Behind Mary

According to SSA data, Mary achieved its highest historical rank of #1 in 1880. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 1921 with 73,984 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have decreased by 15.6%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 146 consecutive years.

📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Mary across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Stable
10-Year Shift -15.6% Decline
18801920196020002025

📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 73,984 births in 1921
Years in Top 100 129 yrs
Years in Top 500 146 yrs
Registry Streak 146 yrs
Historical Volatility Very Stable
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 91,668
1890s: 131,138
1900s: 161,504
1910s: 478,636
1920s: 701,755
1930s: 573,000
1940s: 640,080
1950s: 625,606
1960s: 355,240
1970s: 126,254
1980s: 95,862
1990s: 75,723
2000s: 46,337
2010s: 25,693
2020s: 12,985

📐 Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Ma-ry
Letter Count 4 letters
Spelling Complexity Easy
Length Percentile Longer than 1.4% of names
Linguistic Profile: It is an isogram, meaning no two letters are repeated. Longer than 1.4% of SSA names. Starts with M, a letter used by only 7.6% of SSA names.

🛠️ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Mary.

📍 Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Mississippi
Top States Mississippi, Alabama, West Virginia, Kentucky, South Carolina
States with Data 51
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Mississippi #6 87,586 1927 2.7% Decline
Alabama #6 116,898 1925 +14.8% Growth
West Virginia #197 58,569 1924 Insufficient historical volume
Kentucky #81 103,699 1924 Stable
South Carolina #56 84,152 1924 10.0% Decline
Pennsylvania #94 292,817 1918 19.8% Decline
Arkansas #33 58,912 1925 +75.0% Growth
District of Columbia #86 22,461 1946 Insufficient historical volume
Tennessee #65 106,691 1924 Stable
Missouri #89 106,159 1927 15.1% Decline
Massachusetts #157 116,511 1921 21.7% Decline
Iowa #213 61,965 1947 Insufficient historical volume
North Carolina #89 134,193 1924 +4.8% Growth
Wyoming Unranked 6,196 1921 Insufficient historical volume
Rhode Island #169 16,551 1921 Insufficient historical volume
Georgia #53 125,808 1922 +5.6% Growth
Vermont Unranked 7,663 1954 Insufficient historical volume
New Mexico #206 23,842 1947 Insufficient historical volume
Louisiana #48 78,977 1947 +19.2% Growth
Ohio #110 201,890 1921 +13.3% Growth
Indiana #109 101,193 1921 +18.0% Growth
Virginia #112 96,705 1924 15.8% Decline
Montana #77 12,974 1918 Insufficient historical volume
Maryland #134 64,185 1921 +12.9% Growth
Wisconsin #167 84,302 1954 28.9% Decline
South Dakota Unranked 14,265 1949 Insufficient historical volume
Delaware Unranked 8,441 1955 Insufficient historical volume
Oklahoma #103 56,073 1927 +40.0% Growth
Nebraska #195 30,212 1950 Insufficient historical volume
Kansas #94 43,390 1921 +22.2% Growth
Illinois #169 200,599 1954 10.6% Decline
Minnesota #175 71,013 1954 Insufficient historical volume
North Dakota #233 13,096 1948 Insufficient historical volume
Connecticut Unranked 41,796 1917 Insufficient historical volume
Michigan #152 137,760 1954 +3.7% Growth
New York #251 277,582 1918 13.9% Decline
Maine Unranked 14,640 1920 Insufficient historical volume
New Jersey #259 90,614 1917 Stable
Alaska #125 4,002 1957 Insufficient historical volume
Texas #187 211,241 1947 +1.7% Growth
New Hampshire #145 8,536 1915 Insufficient historical volume
Colorado #231 31,897 1921 3.4% Decline
Idaho #136 10,013 1922 Insufficient historical volume
Oregon #176 19,884 1947 Insufficient historical volume
Washington #173 34,422 1952 +23.5% Growth
Florida #216 66,969 1956 +20.8% Growth
Hawaii Unranked 5,796 1930 Insufficient historical volume
Arizona #267 23,048 1953 12.9% Decline
Utah #176 13,908 1948 23.5% Decline
California #321 153,378 1954 15.0% Decline
Nevada #256 3,429 1957 Insufficient historical volume

👨‍👩‍👧 Sibling Name Suggestions

👦 Brother Suggestions
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👧 Sister Suggestions
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