Mary is a distinctive choice, ranked #337 in 2024. Your child is likely to be the only Mary in their class.
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UK Rank 2024
#337
US Rank #132
About the Name Mary
Mary is gradually declining in popularity, having dropped 46 places over five years. Its high point was #118 in 1997, and it now sits at #337. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996.
Mary is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
In the US it ranks even higher at #132, where it enjoys a particularly strong following.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Mary
Unlikely. With around 128 UK babies named Mary per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Mary in her class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Mary has been declining in UK popularity, dropping 46 places in the last five years. Its peak was #118 in 1997. Choosing it now means she is likely to be among the last of her generation with this name.
Mary is more popular in the US (#132) than in the UK (#337). Names with strong rankings in both countries tend to have broad cross-cultural appeal, working well for international families or those with ties to both nations.
Notable people named Mary include: Mary Elizabeth Ellis — Mary Elizabeth Ellis is an American actress.; Mary, mother of Jesus — Mary was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Joseph and the mother of Jesus..
Mary appears in the US top 500 at #132 in 2024 — moderately popular in America, though less so than in the UK.
128
UK babies named Mary (2024)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.1
In a school of 600
↓ 46 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Mary
Likely around 1 other Mary in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2024)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Mary
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Mary Elizabeth Ellis is an American actress. She is best known for her recurring roles as The Waitress on the FX comedy It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Nick's ex-girlfriend Caroline in the Fox sitcom New Girl, and Lisa Palmer on the Netflix horror-comedy Santa Clarita Diet.
Mary I was Queen of England and Ireland from July 1553 and Queen of Spain as the wife of King Philip II from January 1556 until her death in 1558. She made vigorous attempts to reverse the English Reformation, which had begun during the reign of her father, King Henry VIII.
Mary II was Queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland with her husband, King William III and II, from 1689 until her death in 1694. She was also Princess of Orange following her marriage on 4 November 1677.
Mary Denise Rand was an English athlete who excelled at jumping, hurdles and the pentathlon. She won the long jump at the 1964 Summer Olympics by breaking the world record, the first British female to win an Olympic gold medal in athletics.
Mary, Queen of Scots, also known as Mary Stuart or Mary I of Scotland, was Queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 until her forced abdication on 24 July 1567. The only surviving legitimate child of James V of Scotland, Mary was six days old when her father died, and she inherited the throne.
Mary of Teck was Queen of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, from 6 May 1910 until 20 January 1936 as the wife of King George V. Born in Kensington and raised in Belgravia, Mary was the daughter of Francis, Duke of Teck, a German nobleman, and Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge, a granddaughter of King George III.
Mary was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Joseph and the mother of Jesus. She is an important figure of Christianity, venerated under various titles such as virgin or queen, many of which are mentioned in the Litany of Loreto.