About the name Rosemary
The origin of Rosemary is debated, and we couldn't confirm its meaning from a sourced etymology. A commonly cited theory links it to English roots, with the meaning “Dew of the sea (the herb)”. Treat that as a theory, not a settled fact.
Why we say this: we only state a meaning as fact when a sourced etymology (Wiktionary, with its references) supports it. For Rosemary we didn't find one we were confident in, so we show the popular explanation as a theory.
It has a nature, vintage feel. In 2025, Rosemary ranked #251 for girls in the US, with 1,222 babies given the name. Its peak year since 1940 was 1947. Since 2000, 100% of US babies named Rosemary were girls.
- US rank 2025
- #251
- In 2015
- #517
- Babies in 2025
- 1,222
Popularity of Rosemary, 1940–2025
Latest SSA data: 2025.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration national baby names (public domain; names given to at least 5 babies of one sex per year).
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Rosemary
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The Baby Kit
See Rosemary on a birth announcement
Birth announcements, shower invitations, nursery wall art and milestone cards, all personalized with Rosemary. Type your details once and print at home or at any print shop.
Nicknames for Rosemary
Names similar to Rosemary
Name meanings marked or linked “Wiktionary” are adapted from Wiktionary by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; each name page links its source entry.