Girl name
Mary name meaning
“Rebellion, defiance”
Mary means “rebellion” or “defiance” in the interpretation linked with Hebrew merī. The English form traces back through Greek Maria and Mariam and Latin Maria to Hebrew Miryam. Used as a feminine given name in Türkiye, it has a literary association with Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein.
What does Mary mean?
Rebellion, defiance
In Turkish: İsyan, başkaldırı
Mary belongs to the same broad name family as Meryem and Maria. Miriam, the sister of Moses, and Mary in Christian tradition provide its major historical and religious associations. The gloss ‘rebellion’ reflects one traditional etymological explanation rather than an undisputed translation covering every use of the name.
Origin of the name Mary
Mary is the English form descending through Greek Maria/Mariam and Latin Maria from Hebrew Miryam. Its origin is disputed: a connection with Hebrew merī, ‘rebellion’, is one traditional explanation, while an Egyptian derivation meaning ‘beloved’ has also been proposed.
How to pronounce Mary
| Syllables | 1 · 4 letters · 4-letter girl names |
|---|---|
| IPA | /maɾj/ |
Is Mary a girl’s name?
Yes, Mary is used mostly as a girl’s name. See all girl names.
Mary does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025). In our sample of notable people (Wikidata), 2 people bear it; this is not a national figure.
Spellings and similar names
Names that sound like Mary
Famous people named Mary
- Mary Burak
FAQ about the name Mary
What is the meaning of Mary?
Mary means “Rebellion, defiance”. Mary is the English form descending through Greek Maria/Mariam and Latin Maria from Hebrew Miryam. Its origin is disputed: a connection with Hebrew merī, ‘rebellion’, is one traditional explanation, while an Egyptian derivation meaning ‘beloved’ has also been proposed.
Is Mary a girl’s name?
Yes, Mary is used mostly as a girl’s name.
Is Mary in the Quran?
No. Neither the name Mary nor its source word occurs in the Quran.
What is the origin of the name Mary?
Mary is of Hebrew and Greek and Latin and European languages origin.
How many syllables does Mary have?
Mary has 1 syllable and 4 letters.
How popular is the name Mary?
Mary does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025). In our sample of notable people (Wikidata), 2 people bear it; this is not a national figure.
Famous people named Mary?
Notable people named Mary include Mary Burak.
Sources and method
Meanings and origins draw on language sources and name dictionaries; popularity figures come from TÜİK’s address-based population register, and notable people from Wikidata.
Entry ID: nm11264 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake