girl's name
Rosemary
ROHZ-mair-ee (English)
- Origin Latin
- Gender Girl
- Syllables 3
- Letters 8
- Popularity Top 1000 (US)
- Births on record 169,991
the United States
#251
2025 births
Rosemary is not Rose and Mary joined together — it is the herb, from a Latin phrase meaning dew of the sea. English speakers reanalyzed it into two familiar names, and the reading stuck. It is reviving at 251st in the United States.
- Rosemary is a name of Latin origin.
- Peaked in 1947, when 4,542 babies were given the name.
- After peaking in the 1940s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival.
- Today about 1 in 2,713 babies in the United States is given this name.
- First appears in US birth records in 1882.
- 3 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Rosemary Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1880s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 73 |
| 1890s | 200 |
| 1900s | 634 |
| 1910s | 7,079 |
| 1920s | 26,020 |
| 1930s | 24,941 |
| 1940s | 34,382 |
| 1950s | 25,068 |
| 1960s | 14,652 |
| 1970s | 5,835 |
| 1980s | 5,010 |
| 1990s | 4,056 |
| 2000s | 3,961 |
| 2010s | 5,930 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 5,682 |
What Rosemary Means
Rosemary means dew of the sea, from the Latin name of the herb. Neither half is what it looks like: the ros is dew, not a rose, and the marinus is the sea, not Mary.
Where Rosemary Comes From
Rosemary is the Latin ros marinus, dew of the sea — a name for the shrub that grows on Mediterranean coasts where sea mist settles on it. English heard two familiar names in the phrase and rewrote it accordingly, which is why the modern spelling looks like a compound of Rose and Mary and is treated as one. The herb carried a long association with remembrance, which is why Ophelia says there's rosemary, that's for remembrance, and why it is still worn on Anzac Day in Australia and New Zealand. The reanalysis is complete enough that Rose and Mary are now genuine nicknames for a name neither of them is in.
Rosemary in Use
Rosemary peaked in the United States in 1947, when 4,542 babies were registered, and it is reviving. It now ranks 251st in the United States on 1,222 births, 360th in Scotland on 9, 494th in England and Wales on 81, 571st in Ireland and 2,956th in France, across 169,991 lifetime births in six markets. It sits with Lucille and Warren among the strongest of the current vintage revivals.
How Popular Is Rosemary?
In 2025, Rosemary was given to 1,222 babies in the United States, ranking #251 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in the United States.
Where Rosemary Is Used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
How Rosemary Is Spelled
Birth registers count each spelling separately, so every one has its own ranking.
| Spelling | What it is | Births on record |
|---|---|---|
| Rose-Mary | Rose-Mary is Rosemary written with a hyphen, recorded mostly in France. | 80 |
Names That Peaked Alongside Rosemary
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Rosemary Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Rosemary over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Rosemary
- English ROHZ-mair-ee /ˈɹoʊz.mɛɹ.i/
3 nicknames for Rosemary
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
Rosemary in Other Languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling Names for Rosemary
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Rosemary — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Rosemary
What does the name Rosemary mean?
Dew of the sea — the Latin ros marinus, the herb's own name. It is not Rose and Mary combined.
Is Rosemary a combination of Rose and Mary?
No, though English speakers reanalyzed it that way. Neither half means what it appears to.
Why is rosemary for remembrance?
A long-standing association, which is why Ophelia names it and why it is worn on Anzac Day.
Is Rosemary coming back?
It is reviving, at 251st in the United States on 1,222 births.
How popular is the name Rosemary?
In 2025, Rosemary was given to 1,222 babies in the United States, ranking #251 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in the United States.
Is Rosemary a girl's or a boy's name?
Rosemary is given almost entirely to girls in birth records.
How many syllables are in Rosemary?
Rosemary has 3 syllables.
When was Rosemary most popular?
Rosemary peaked in 1947, when 4,542 babies were given the name. After peaking in the 1940s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival.
What are the nicknames for Rosemary?
Rosemary is usually shortened to Rosie, Romy and Rosa.
Is Rosemary a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Rosemary currently ranks #251 in the United States. After peaking in the 1940s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.