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ETYMOLOGY:
The word is derived from the Egyptian word 'mry' meaning "beloved" or 'mr' meaning "love"

ORIGIN & HISTORY:
The word also exists in Latin and Hebrew where it means "star of the sea" and "sea of bitterness" respectively. The name also features prominently in the Bible where we have references to Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ and also to Mary Magdalene. But it is commonly accepted that the word originated in ancient Egypt.

POPULARITY:
The name has been popular since the time of Bible. Over the last century it has been one of the top two popular names in the US. However it has been declining steadily over the last decade and in 2006 it stood at 84. It is supposed to be the most common female name with nearly 2.6% of American females carrying this name. The name is popular in the Western and the Eastern world as well. Besides, the name can also be found amongst non-Christian people as well!

FASCINATING FACTS:
The name "Mary" is linked to several fascinating facts. For example, the nursery rhyme "Mary had a little Lamb" is named after the young girl Mary Sawyer whose pet lamb followed her to school one day. "Typhoid Mary", is named after a woman, Mary Mallon, who was an unknowing carrier of typhoid and caused several typhoid outbreaks between 1900 and 1915. The Mary Poppins song "A Spoonful of Sugar" was inspired by lyricist Robert B. Sherman's daughter receiving a polio vaccine. Mary is the most important name or word to Catholics and Catholicism, and there are thousands of prayers and praise songs attributed to Mary.

NAMESAKES:
There are several interesting namesakes some of which is contrary to its name. The most popular one that readily comes to mind is the Bloody Mary cocktail drink! Maryland, a state in USA, the ship RMS Queen Mary, Mary Poppins which is a famous book and a movie, Mary Mary Quite Contrary is a nursery rhyme, Mary Lennox is the main character in The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, and a movie named There's Something About Mary' made in 1998.

FAMOUS PERSONS:
There are many famous personalities with this name. Queen Mary of Scots (queen, December 8, 1542-February 8, 1587), Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein, 1797-1851, Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of President Abraham Lincoln, Mary Kate Olsen, actress, born in 1986, Mary-Louise Parker, actress, born in 1964, Mary Kay Ash, entrepreneur & founder Mary Kay Cosmetics, 1918-2001, Mary Tyler Moore, actress born in 1936).

NAME VARIANTS:
This name also has its own share of variants like Maria, Mariah, Mariam, Marie, Marilyn, Maritza, Maryann, Marybeth, Marylou, Maira, Mari, Maribel, Marigold, Marisa, Maressa, Mia, Maria, Maureen, Mya, Mira, Mora, Miri, Morah, Maaya.

The name is indeed beautiful and to some it is the most pious name as it the name of the mother of Jesus Christ.

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