Rosemary

Rosemary is a girl's name that is considered an English variant of Rosemarie. The name is composed of the elements Rose and Mary.

What does the name Rosemary mean?

The name Rosemary, an English variation of Rosemarie, is composed of the parts Rose and Mary. Rose is a Latinized form of the Latin term Rosa, meaning 'the rose', and comes from the word rosa, which also means 'the rose'. Mary is a form of the biblical name Maria, which has its origins in the Hebrew Miryam. The meanings range from 'the beloved' to 'the bitter', 'the untamed', 'the drop of the sea', or 'the star of the sea'. There are numerous derivations for the name Maria, which are explained in detail on the corresponding name page. Additionally, the name also exists in the form Rose-Mary. In everyday English, 'rosemary' is often used to refer to the culinary herb rosemary. The name gained popularity in England during the 19th century. A common short form is Romy, while other variants include Rosemaria, Rosemari, and Rosamaria.

Where does the name Rosemary come from?

The origin of the name Rosemary is both ancient Hebrew and Latin, with meanings such as 'the untamed' and 'the beloved'.

How do you pronounce Rosemary?

The name Rosemary has a three-syllable, gentle sound structure. In German pronunciation, it is usually pronounced as 'Ro-se-ma-ry' [ˈʁoʊzmɛri]. It begins with a rounded sound that conveys openness, and the middle syllables bring a harmonious rhythm to the pronunciation. The final 'y' adds a bright, friendly note that gently concludes the name. Overall, Rosemary feels lively and calm at the same time – melodic, soft, and with a fine, balanced sound.

When is the name day of Rosemary?

Rosemary is celebrated on March 8, April 8, August 23, September 4, October 7, and November 14.

Popularity

In Germany, Rosemary is a rather rare first name. The name currently ranks 5,884th in the list of the most common female first names. Its best placement was in 2022, reaching 1,640th place. Over the last ten years, Rosemary has been given as a first name about 80 times, placing it 2,806th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 3,103rd.

Nicknames & pet names

Mary / Rose / Rosi / Rosie / Rosy

Similar first names

Famous people

• Beulah Rosemary Bewley (British physicist)
• Kathryn Rosemary Bullard (singer, songwriter, and producer)
• Rosemary "Rose" Hathaway (narrator and heroine of the 'Vampire Academy' book series)
• Rosemary Ames (American actress)
• Rosemary Ann Harris (English actress)
• Rosemary Applefield (character from the anime Ashita no Nadja)
• Rosemary Butler (musician from America)
• Rosemary Church (CNN anchorwoman)
• Rosemary Clement-Moore (writer from the USA)
• Rosemary Clooney (1928–2002, American singer and actress)
• Rosemary Cramp (archaeologist from Great Britain)
• Rosemary Dinnage (British writer)
• Rosemary Forsyth (Canadian actress)
• Rosemary H. Mason (actress from England)
• Rosemary Harris (actress 'Spider-Man')
• Rosemary Joshua (English soprano)
• Rosemary Kennedy (1918–2005, sister of John F. Kennedy)
• Rosemary Kilbourn (Canadian artist)
• Rosemary Kirstein (American writer)
• Rosemary Lassig (Australian swimmer)