The name Mary fem. proper name, O.E. Maria, Marie, "mother of Jesus," from L. Maria, from Gk. Mariam, Maria, from Aram. Maryam, from Heb. Miryam, sister of Moses (Ex. xv.), of unknown origin, said to mean lit. "rebellion.". The name "Miriam" is first seen in the Old Testament, one theory is that since they were living in Egypt, it is reasonable to assume that the name is associated with the Egyptian "Mery" or "Meryt" which means "cherished" or "beloved."
"Mary" could refer to any of the following:
- The Ever-virgin Mary the Theotokos, the Mother of Jesus Christ
- St. Mary the Grandmother of the Theotokos
- St. Mary (Miriam or Mariam) the sister of Moses (celebrated the Sunday before Christmas; December 18)
- St. Mary, wife of St. Xenophon (January 26)
- St. Mary the martyr, sister of Martha and Lycarion (February 8)
- St. Mary the nun (Marinus), daughter of the monk St. Eugene, at Alexandria (February 12)
- St. Mary of Perga (March 21)
- Mary of Egypt (April 1)
- St. Mary the Myrrh-bearer, wife of Cleopas (May 23)
- Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha and Lazarus (June 4)
- St. Mary, one of the five virgin-martyrs of Caesarea in Palestine (June 6)
- St. Mary, one of the five nuns martyred in Persia (June 9 and September 26)
- St. Mary the Chinese (June 11)
- Mary Magdalene (July 22)
- St. Mary of Patrikia or Constantinople, martyr (August 9)
- St. Mary of Mesopotamia, niece of St. Abramius the Recluse (October 29)
- New-martyr Mary the "Methymopoula" (May 1)