Rosemary Name Meaning, Origin, Popularity, Girl Names Like Rosemary

Rosemary Name Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: r(o)-sema-ry, ros(e)-mary
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Rosemary Name Meaning

The name Rosemary is derived from the Latin words “ros” meaning “dew” and “marinus” meaning “sea.” So, essentially, the name Rosemary means “dew of the sea.” How romantic is that? The name was first used as a given name in the late 19th century and has been popular ever since.

Origins of the Name Rosemary

Rosemary is also an herb that has been used for centuries in cooking and as a symbol of remembrance. The ancient Greeks and Romans believed that rosemary could improve memory, and students would often wear a sprig of rosemary in their hair during exams. The herb was also used in funerals and is still used today as a symbol of remembrance.

Popularity of the Name Rosemary

Rosemary has never been a super-popular name, but it has had its moments in the spotlight. In the early 20th century, the name was quite popular in the United States, but it started to decline in the 1950s. In the last decade, the name has seen a resurgence in popularity and is now considered a trendy and modern choice for a baby girl.

Famous Rosemarys

Throughout history, there have been many famous women named Rosemary. One of the most well-known is Rosemary Clooney, an American singer and actress. She had a string of hit songs in the 1950s, including “Come On-a My House” and “Mambo Italiano.” Another famous Rosemary is Rosemary Kennedy, the sister of President John F. Kennedy. Unfortunately, she was lobotomized in 1941 and spent the rest of her life in an institution.

In literature, Rosemary is the name of the protagonist in the novel “Rosemary’s Baby” by Ira Levin, which was later made into a movie. In the story, Rosemary is a young woman who becomes pregnant with the devil’s child. The novel was a bestseller and the movie adaptation directed by Roman Polanski was a box office hit.

Final Thoughts on the Name Rosemary

Overall, the name Rosemary is a classic, timeless choice for a baby girl. Its meaning, “dew of the sea,” is romantic and lovely, and its use as a symbol of remembrance gives it a deeper significance. And with its recent resurgence in popularity, it’s a trendy and modern choice. Whether you’re naming a baby, an herb garden, or a literary character, Rosemary is a versatile and beautiful name.

Rosemary Name Popularity

How popular is the name Rosemary? Here’s everything we know.

Year	Rank	# Births	% Births
1910	—	100	0.0284%
1911	—	121	0.0325%
1912	—	244	0.0484%
1913	—	357	0.063%
1914	—	517	0.0742%
1915	—	787	0.0866%
1916	—	966	0.1%
1917	—	1,080	0.108%
1918	—	1,224	0.114%
1919	—	1,313	0.1254%
1920	—	1,686	0.1516%
1921	—	2,006	0.1752%
1922	—	2,154	0.1933%
1923	—	2,417	0.2158%
1924	—	2,717	0.234%
1925	—	2,738	0.2422%
1926	—	2,880	0.2618%
1927	—	3,133	0.283%
1928	—	2,950	0.2757%
1929	—	3,091	0.2984%
1930	—	3,135	0.3001%
1931	—	2,695	0.2731%
1932	—	2,463	0.2493%
1933	—	2,206	0.2368%
1934	—	2,104	0.2176%
1935	—	2,376	0.2445%
1936	—	2,135	0.2216%
1937	—	2,291	0.2325%
1938	—	2,672	0.261%
1939	—	2,593	0.2549%
1940	—	2,859	0.269%
1941	—	2,662	0.2365%
1942	—	2,988	0.2366%
1943	—	2,962	0.2269%
1944	—	2,736	0.2208%
1945	—	3,499	0.2869%
1946	—	4,484	0.3039%
1947	—	4,536	0.2717%
1948	—	3,866	0.2422%
1949	—	3,628	0.2255%
1950	—	3,453	0.2145%
1951	—	3,337	0.1968%
1952	—	2,773	0.1589%
1953	—	2,423	0.1369%
1954	—	2,180	0.1193%
1955	—	1,996	0.1085%
1956	—	2,050	0.1085%
1957	—	2,258	0.1173%
1958	—	2,198	0.1163%
1959	—	2,220	0.1168%
1960	—	2,167	0.1144%
1961	—	2,114	0.112%
1962	—	1,921	0.1046%
1963	—	1,712	0.0954%
1964	—	1,597	0.0907%
1965	—	1,247	0.0763%
1966	—	1,093	0.07%
1967	—	886	0.0584%
1968	—	843	0.0561%
1969	—	760	0.0493%
1970	—	750	0.0471%
1971	—	698	0.0465%
1972	—	576	0.0423%
1973	—	565	0.0436%
1974	—	575	0.0442%
1975	—	486	0.0378%
1976	—	448	0.0348%
1977	—	405	0.03%
1978	—	396	0.0295%
1979	—	444	0.0315%
1980	—	543	0.0371%
1981	—	524	0.0356%
1982	—	489	0.0327%
1983	—	447	0.0303%
1984	—	442	0.0297%
1985	—	461	0.0304%
1986	—	409	0.0271%
1987	—	412	0.027%
1988	—	377	0.0242%
1989	—	409	0.0253%
1990	—	429	0.0259%
1991	—	378	0.0232%
1992	—	375	0.0235%
1993	—	337	0.0216%
1994	—	353	0.023%
1995	—	357	0.0237%
1996	—	352	0.0235%
1997	—	300	0.0203%
1998	—	338	0.0226%
1999	—	323	0.0216%
2000	—	345	0.0226%
2001	—	360	0.0239%
2002	—	361	0.0241%
2003	—	356	0.0234%
2004	—	330	0.0217%
2005	—	334	0.0218%
2006	—	349	0.0223%
2007	—	353	0.0224%
2008	—	351	0.0227%
2009	—	361	0.0242%
2010	—	355	0.0246%
2011	—	387	0.0272%
2012	—	420	0.0295%
2013	—	520	0.0365%
2014	—	485	0.0333%
2015	—	558	0.0383%
2016	—	699	0.0485%
2017	—	664	0.0476%
2018	—	662	0.0482%
2019	—	740	0.0547%
2020	—	635	0.0499%
2021	—	766	0.0627%
2022	—	831	0.063%
2023	—	973	0.0752%

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Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Rosemary

If you like Rosemary, you’ll love these other names like Rosemary.

What names are variants of Rosemary?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Rosemary.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Romy	Diminutive of Rosemary and Rosemarie	German
Rosemaree	Dew of the sea	Latin
Rosemarey	Dew of the sea	Latin
Rosemaria	Dew of the sea	Latin
Rosemarie	Dew of the sea	Latin
Rosmarie	Dew of the sea	Latin
Rozmary	Dew of the sea	Latin

Lists With Rosemary

Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name Rosemary.

Siblings of Rosemary

Mamas with kids named Rosemary also have kids with these names.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Alfred	Elf or magical counsel	English
Evangeline	Good news	English
Anthony	Unknown meaning	Latin
Henry	Home ruler	English

Share Your Thoughts

11 Comments

Megan Mar 7 at 9:53 am

Im a chef and one of my favorite herbs since I was young was rosemary. I remember always smelling it in my moms garden.. I also love the song “love grows” by Edison lighthouse which i sing to her all the time! “My love grows where my rosemary goes and nobody knows like me”

Reply
Rosemary Jan 26 at 4:32 pm

It’s a family namesake

Reply
Darja Mar 11 at 8:22 am

I had a dream that Rosemary was the name of my baby girl. And then I woke up I knew that would be the name I would give my baby if I had a girl. A few weeks later I found out o was pregnant and I just knew she was a girl because the doctor ever confirmed it.

Reply
Sarah Jan 5 at 7:40 pm

Means dew of the sea, we love the water and live near the ocean, plus the herb. It’s simple, traditional and still unique and she can choose to go by Rosie, Rose or her full name. We’re happy with it!

Reply
Rachel Cagle Apr 17 at 1:14 pm

Rosemary is a tribute to my Grandma Mary and her closest friend and sister, Rose, who died too young.

Reply
Emma Jewel Hill-England Jan 2 at 9:51 am

My partner and I both love older names, and find them to be just beautiful!
We also love the lore behind rosemary as an herb, and felt it was fitting for our first little one.

Reply
Amber Jun 30 at 11:08 am

Had Rose’s aunt thought of the name

Reply
Kim Jun 12 at 2:58 pm

We named our daughter Rosemary after my husband’s mother, Mary Jo, who’s favorite flower was a Rose.

Reply
- Lucy brown Nov 29 at 6:24 am
  
  MARY JO WAS MY LATE MOTHERS NAME SO NOW I HATE IT BECAUSE IT REMINDS ME OF WHAT I LOST. my beautiful mama. 🙁
  
  Reply
Jessica Jun 8 at 12:54 pm

My husband has wanted a Rosemary for years. It has very Catholic roots, which I love.

Reply
Megan Jun 8 at 9:25 am

It’s a classic name that can sound elegant as Rosemary or Rose, but can be turned into the cute nickname, Rosie. It fits all ages well!

Reply

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