Fun Facts About the Name Rosemary
- A favorite of earlier generations: Rosemary appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 3 separate runs, totaling 20 years. Its last run lasted 12 consecutive years, from 1938 through 1949.
- More than 163 thousand babies named Rosemary: U.S. records list 163,502 babies given the name Rosemary from 1880 through 2025. Even 358 boys received the name Rosemary - about 1 boy for every 456 girls.
What Does the Name Rosemary Mean?
Rosemary is an English feminine given name usually understood as a combination of the older names Rose and Mary. Rose comes from Latin rosa, the flower name. Mary is the English form of Hebrew Miryam; the meaning of that Hebrew name is uncertain, with traditional explanations such as "bitter" or "rebellious," though none is securely established. Taken literally, Rosemary is a compound of two names rather than a single translated word. A common customary interpretation is "rose of Mary." The herb called rosemary has a separate etymology: it comes from Latin ros marinus, usually explained as "dew of the sea," from ros "dew" and marinus "of the sea." The English plant name was later reshaped to resemble Rose + Mary, which helps explain why the given name and the herb are often linked, but the personal name is not simply a translation of the Latin plant term.
Rosemary Name History & Origins
Rosemary is an English feminine name. In modern use it is usually explained as a compound of the older names Rose and Mary, both of which have long histories in England. Mary was among the most common English women's names in the Middle Ages and after, largely because of devotion to the Virgin Mary. Rose was also used in medieval England. A compound of two familiar names would have been readily understood, and Rosemary follows that pattern. The name's spelling is identical to the English word for the herb rosemary. The plant name comes from Latin ros marinus; in Middle English it was often rosmarine, and the later form rosemary was influenced by the names Rose and Mary. Because of this overlap, the given name is sometimes said to come from the herb, but the herb's Latin etymology and the personal name's likely origin are separate. Rosemary the herb has long been a symbol of remembrance; in Hamlet, Ophelia says, "There's rosemary, that's for remembrance." That association belongs to the plant. The related form Rosemarie is used especially in German.
How Popular is the Name Rosemary?
Rosemary recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1947. People named Amelia who were born during its modern resurgence from 1938 through 1949 turn 77-88 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #251 | 1,222 | 0.0760% |
| 2024 | #301 | 1,037 | 0.0643% |
| 2023 | #310 | 995 | 0.0621% |
| 2022 | #365 | 871 | 0.0531% |
| 2021 | #363 | 846 | 0.0516% |
| 2020 | #442 | 698 | 0.0432% |
| 2019 | #405 | 770 | 0.0459% |
| 2018 | #452 | 699 | 0.0411% |
| 2017 | #454 | 698 | 0.0404% |
| 2016 | #436 | 740 | 0.0418% |
| 2015 | #517 | 607 | 0.0340% |
| 2014 | #570 | 536 | 0.0300% |
| 2013 | #531 | 563 | 0.0321% |
| 2012 | #601 | 479 | 0.0272% |
| 2011 | #651 | 439 | 0.0250% |
| 2010 | #715 | 395 | 0.0222% |
| 2009 | #717 | 404 | 0.0220% |
| 2008 | #746 | 398 | 0.0211% |
| 2007 | #721 | 406 | 0.0211% |
| 2006 | #692 | 410 | 0.0216% |
| 2005 | #745 | 362 | 0.0196% |
| 2004 | #712 | 376 | 0.0205% |
| 2003 | #661 | 403 | 0.0221% |
| 2002 | #634 | 403 | 0.0224% |
| 2001 | #624 | 401 | 0.0223% |
| 2000 | #631 | 397 | 0.0219% |
| 1999 | #631 | 375 | 0.0211% |
| 1998 | #609 | 395 | 0.0224% |
| 1997 | #651 | 339 | 0.0195% |
| 1996 | #555 | 421 | 0.0240% |
| 1995 | #571 | 403 | 0.0229% |
| 1994 | #572 | 402 | 0.0225% |
| 1993 | #595 | 395 | 0.0218% |
| 1992 | #561 | 420 | 0.0228% |
| 1991 | #550 | 429 | 0.0229% |
| 1990 | #509 | 472 | 0.0249% |
| 1989 | #504 | 466 | 0.0253% |
| 1988 | #512 | 431 | 0.0242% |
| 1987 | #477 | 455 | 0.0262% |
| 1986 | #455 | 473 | 0.0276% |
| 1985 | #431 | 512 | 0.0298% |
| 1984 | #431 | 489 | 0.0290% |
| 1983 | #433 | 489 | 0.0293% |
| 1982 | #420 | 532 | 0.0314% |
| 1981 | #401 | 565 | 0.0339% |
| 1980 | #395 | 576 | 0.0347% |
| 1979 | #427 | 489 | 0.0305% |
| 1978 | #442 | 453 | 0.0296% |
| 1977 | #445 | 460 | 0.0300% |
| 1976 | #406 | 497 | 0.0339% |
| 1975 | #384 | 534 | 0.0366% |
| 1974 | #348 | 624 | 0.0425% |
| 1973 | #350 | 609 | 0.0418% |
| 1972 | #357 | 617 | 0.0406% |
| 1971 | #341 | 743 | 0.0447% |
| 1970 | #331 | 797 | 0.0456% |
| 1969 | #322 | 794 | 0.0471% |
| 1968 | #296 | 876 | 0.0534% |
| 1967 | #281 | 914 | 0.0554% |
| 1966 | #254 | 1,122 | 0.0663% |
| 1965 | #241 | 1,276 | 0.0723% |
| 1964 | #214 | 1,629 | 0.0860% |
| 1963 | #205 | 1,729 | 0.0897% |
| 1962 | #195 | 1,939 | 0.0986% |
| 1961 | #181 | 2,133 | 0.1057% |
| 1960 | #181 | 2,192 | 0.1084% |
| 1959 | #173 | 2,230 | 0.1102% |
| 1958 | #171 | 2,223 | 0.1105% |
| 1957 | #168 | 2,275 | 0.1113% |
| 1956 | #175 | 2,066 | 0.1029% |
| 1955 | #171 | 2,015 | 0.1031% |
| 1954 | #160 | 2,191 | 0.1128% |
| 1953 | #147 | 2,432 | 0.1293% |
| 1952 | #130 | 2,786 | 0.1502% |
| 1951 | #109 | 3,346 | 0.1858% |
| 1950 | #101 | 3,455 | 0.2017% |
| 1949 | #98 | 3,633 | 0.2123% |
| 1948 | #90 | 3,869 | 0.2279% |
| 1947 | #80 | 4,542 | 0.2562% |
| 1946 | #74 | 4,486 | 0.2855% |
| 1945 | #79 | 3,500 | 0.2678% |
| 1944 | #99 | 2,744 | 0.2067% |
| 1943 | #97 | 2,967 | 0.2126% |
| 1942 | #92 | 3,004 | 0.2224% |
| 1941 | #94 | 2,677 | 0.2216% |
| 1940 | #85 | 2,874 | 0.2513% |
| 1939 | #93 | 2,612 | 0.2382% |
| 1938 | #95 | 2,681 | 0.2430% |
| 1937 | #110 | 2,307 | 0.2168% |
| 1936 | #111 | 2,148 | 0.2065% |
| 1935 | #97 | 2,394 | 0.2283% |
| 1934 | #111 | 2,132 | 0.2042% |
| 1933 | #102 | 2,227 | 0.2209% |
| 1932 | #100 | 2,483 | 0.2327% |
| 1931 | #88 | 2,722 | 0.2557% |
| 1930 | #82 | 3,151 | 0.2799% |
| 1929 | #80 | 3,107 | 0.2783% |
| 1928 | #88 | 2,972 | 0.2577% |
| 1927 | #86 | 3,153 | 0.2644% |
| 1926 | #95 | 2,900 | 0.2446% |
| 1925 | #103 | 2,755 | 0.2263% |
| 1924 | #106 | 2,734 | 0.2189% |
| 1923 | #110 | 2,427 | 0.2012% |
| 1922 | #120 | 2,170 | 0.1807% |
| 1921 | #128 | 2,034 | 0.1650% |
| 1920 | #141 | 1,713 | 0.1430% |
| 1919 | #166 | 1,330 | 0.1177% |
| 1918 | #171 | 1,259 | 0.1088% |
| 1917 | #176 | 1,124 | 0.1040% |
| 1916 | #184 | 996 | 0.0954% |
| 1915 | #201 | 820 | 0.0833% |
| 1914 | #225 | 563 | 0.0739% |
| 1913 | #246 | 388 | 0.0621% |
| 1912 | #259 | 298 | 0.0534% |
| 1911 | #312 | 160 | 0.0382% |
| 1910 | #329 | 141 | 0.0356% |
| 1909 | #328 | 123 | 0.0354% |
| 1908 | #380 | 91 | 0.0272% |
| 1907 | #382 | 87 | 0.0273% |
| 1906 | #441 | 61 | 0.0207% |
| 1905 | #424 | 64 | 0.0219% |
| 1904 | #443 | 54 | 0.0196% |
| 1903 | #464 | 48 | 0.0183% |
| 1902 | #535 | 37 | 0.0140% |
| 1901 | #589 | 29 | 0.0121% |
| 1900 | #539 | 40 | 0.0133% |
| 1899 | #660 | 23 | 0.0099% |
| 1898 | #608 | 29 | 0.0112% |
| 1897 | #563 | 29 | 0.0124% |
| 1896 | #784 | 18 | 0.0076% |
| 1895 | #656 | 23 | 0.0098% |
| 1894 | #946 | 12 | 0.0054% |
| 1893 | #612 | 23 | 0.0108% |
| 1892 | #755 | 16 | 0.0075% |
| 1891 | #882 | 11 | 0.0059% |
| 1890 | #689 | 16 | 0.0084% |
| 1889 | #715 | 14 | 0.0078% |
| 1888 | #1,021 | 8 | 0.0045% |
| 1887 | #723 | 11 | 0.0075% |
| 1886 | #726 | 11 | 0.0076% |
| 1885 | #1,176 | 5 | 0.0038% |
| 1884 | #912 | 7 | 0.0054% |
| 1883 | #749 | 8 | 0.0071% |
| 1882 | #669 | 9 | 0.0083% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | #9,237 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1989 | #6,108 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1983 | #7,120 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1981 | #4,876 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1977 | #5,709 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1971 | #4,818 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1969 | #3,866 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1968 | #4,056 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1967 | #3,900 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1965 | #3,196 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1964 | #3,551 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1963 | #4,522 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1962 | #3,008 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1959 | #3,920 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1957 | #3,507 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1956 | #3,489 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1955 | #4,305 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1954 | #2,914 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1951 | #3,309 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1950 | #3,272 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1949 | #3,256 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1948 | #2,426 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1946 | #2,880 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1945 | #3,700 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1944 | #2,177 | 12 | 0.0009% |
| 1943 | #2,258 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1942 | #2,365 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1941 | #2,620 | 9 | 0.0007% |
| 1940 | #2,452 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1939 | #3,063 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1938 | #2,300 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1937 | #2,312 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1936 | #2,813 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1935 | #3,206 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1934 | #2,919 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1933 | #2,952 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1932 | #2,608 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1931 | #2,087 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1929 | #2,180 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1928 | #3,312 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1927 | #2,504 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1926 | #4,108 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1925 | #4,768 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1924 | #4,845 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1923 | #4,781 | 5 | 0.0005% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Rosemary
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Rosemary Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are a law unto itself. Your tendency is to finish whatever you start. You are tolerant and like to help humanity. You are very active. You are generally warmhearted and gives freely of your time, energy, and sympathetic understanding. You have tolerance and acceptance of the frailties of others. Universal and humanitarian in outlook. This is very compassionate name. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Rosemary's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Rosemary's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.