fem. proper name, Old English Maria, Marie, name of the mother of Jesus, from Latin Maria, from Greek Mariam, Maria, from Aramaic Maryam, from Hebrew Miryam, name of the sister of Moses (Exodus xv), a word of unknown origin, said to mean literally "rebellion."

The nursery rhyme "Mary had a Little Lamb" was written early 1830 by Sarah Josepha Hale of Boston and published September 1830 in "Juvenile Miscellany," a popular magazine for children. Mary Jane is 1921 as the proprietary name of a kind of low-heeled shoe worn chiefly by young girls, 1928 as slang for marijuana.

the cocktail, attested from 1947 (originally touted in part as a hangover cure), said to be named for Mary Tudor, queen of England 1553-58, who earned her epithet for vigorous prosecution of Protestants. The drink earned its, apparently, simply for being red from tomato juice. The cocktail's popularity also coincided with that of the musical "South Pacific," which has a character named "Bloody Mary."

"a puppet worked by strings," c. 1620, literally "little little Mary," from French marionette (16c.), diminutive of Old French mariole "figurine, idol, picture of the Virgin Mary," itself a diminutive of Marie (see Mary). For ending, see -ette.

"of Mary," 1701, referring to the Virgin, from Mary + -ian; also (c. 1600) in reference to the reign of Queen Mary of England, who reigned 1553-58; and (1902) to Mary Queen of Scots (1542-1587). Also "of or pertaining to Caius Marius," the noted Roman general (died 86 B.C.E.).

"worship of the Virgin Mary," usually implying idolatrous or improper veneration, 1610s, from Mary + -latry "worship of," with connective element -o-. Related: Mariolater; Mariolatrous.

fem. proper name, a diminutive of Moll, which is a familiar form of Mary.

fem. proper name, French, a diminutive of Marie (see Mary) and compare Marian.