100+ Ways to Name a Boy or Girl After Mary the Mother of God

Whether you’re talking about a girl named Mary Virginia or a 17th century French priest named Louis-Marie de Montfort, parents since the time of Christ have honored His mother by the names they’ve chosen for both their boys and girls. My mother had four daughters, and three of us were given the middle name of Marie to honor the Blessed Virgin.

If you wish to remember the Mother of God and her role in salvation history, but want something more unique than Mary or Marie, then read on!

Let’s start with forms of Mary.

Note: Names that would also work well for a boy are in italics.

Variations of the Name Mary

Mara or Maura
Maria
Mariah
Marion
Marya
Maureen
Miriam

Diminutives of Mary

Many forms have grown out of the name Mary, in different languages:

Marika
Mariska
Marita
Marzena
Mia
Molly
Myra
Ona
Polly

Names That Contain Mary

Maribel
Marilla
Marlyn
Marilyn
Marianna
Marianita
Marilee
Marisela
Marisol
Marlene
Marlena
Marynell
Maribeth
Marigold
Marilou
Mariel
Mariella
Mariette
Marissa
Marita
Rosemary or Romy

Our Lady of the Annunciation by Fra Angelico

Marian Names Inspired by Devotion

If you’ve ever prayed the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary (composed during the Middle Ages) you know that over the centuries God’s mother has been given many titles, out of love and appreciation for her attributes and assistance. Jesus generously gave us Mary from the cross: “Behold, your mother!”

These titles can be used for a child’s name in various imaginative ways.

Akita – from Our Lady of Akita
Alexandria – from Our Lady of Alexandria
Amata – from the Latin for “Beloved Mother”
Amy – from the Latin for “Mother Most Amiable”
Angelo or Angela – from “Queen of Angels”
Carmel – from Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Caeli – from “Gate of Heaven” (Caeli is pronounced as it is in Latin – chay-lee)
Clement – from Our Lady of Clemency
Cora – from the Latin for “Immaculate Heart”
Danica – from the Slavic for “Morning Star”
Dawn or Aurora – from “Mary the Dawn” or “Dawn of Salvation”
Edessa – from Our Lady of Edessa
Eve or Eva – Mary is called The New Eve
Fatima – from Our Lady of Fatima
Fidelis – from Virgin Most Faithful
Grace or Gratian – from Our Lady of Grace
Lily – a symbol of purity
Lupe – after Our Lady of Guadalupe
Maren or Marina – from “Star of the Sea”
Marisol – from the Spanish for “Mary of Solitude”
Mercedes – for “Mother of Mercy”
May – the month of Mary
Paloma – after Our Lady of the Doves or her title “Spotless Dove”
Perpetua – after Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Pilar – after Our Lady of the Pillar
Ransom – after Our Lady of Ransom
Refugio – after Our Lady of Refuge
Reina or Reyna – from the Latin for “Queen”
Roch – after Our Lady of the Rock
Rose or Rosa – from “Mystical Rose”
Rosario or Rosaria – from “Queen of the Rosary”
Sophia – from “Seat of Wisdom”
Star – from “Star of the Sea”
Stella – from “Star of the Sea” or “Morning Star”
Tristan – after Our Lady of Sorrows
Victor or Victoria – after Our Lady of Victories
Virginia – from the Latin for “virgin”

Above: Insightful meditations from Saint John Newman, an Anglican convert

Do you have any other Marian name ideas to share?