Marie

♀ Girl

Pronounced mah-REE /məˈriː/High

Meaning: French form of Mary, from the Hebrew Miryam, whose meaning is debated: possibly from Egyptian mry ('beloved') or mr ('beloved of God'), or from Hebrew marah ('bitter'), or from Aramaic meaning 'wished-for child'High

In 30 seconds: Marie is the elegant French form of Mary — beloved, ancient, and carried by queens, a Nobel laureate, and the most venerated figure in Christian tradition. Timeless by definition.

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Origin HighHebrew, French

MeaningFrench form of Mary, from the Hebrew Miryam, whose meaning is debated: possibly from Egyptian mry ('beloved') or mr ('beloved of God'), or from Hebrew marah ('bitter'), or from Aramaic meaning 'wished-for child'

U.S. rank (2025)#618 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births474 girls (0.03% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1920

Total births (all-time)≈ 540,069

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Marie is the French form of Mary, from Hebrew Miryam. The name Mary/Marie is the most given female name in Western Christian history, borne by the Virgin Mary in the New Testament. The precise Hebrew meaning of Miryam is disputed by scholars: theories include 'beloved of God,' 'bitter,' and 'wished-for child.' The French form Marie became standard in Catholic France from the medieval period.

Marie was one of the most popular girls' names in France, Belgium, and Catholic countries for centuries. In the United States it peaked in the early 20th century and has retained consistent use as both a standalone name and a middle name. Marie Curie and Marie Antoinette are its most famous modern bearers.

Did you know? Marie Curie (1867–1934) is the only person in history to win Nobel Prizes in two different sciences (Physics 1903, Chemistry 1911) — and she was born Maria Sklodowska, adopting the French name Marie upon moving to Paris, giving the name an extraordinary scientific legacy.

Overall data confidence 92%

Behind the Name — Marie — etymology and historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

MaryMariaMarion

Nicknames

MariRee

Famous Bearers

★Marie Curie (1867–1934)
Polish-French physicist and chemist, the only person to win Nobel Prizes in two sciences.
★Marie Antoinette (1755–1793)
Queen of France and wife of Louis XVI, executed during the French Revolution.

If you like Marie…

Mary— the English form of the same Hebrew name

Maria— the Latin/Spanish form with the same ancient devotional heritage

Celeste— French Catholic feminine name with the same graceful, timeless dignity

Grace— two-syllable English virtue-name with the same understated, enduring elegance

Frequently Asked

What does the name Marie mean?

Marie is the French form of Mary, from Hebrew Miryam whose meaning is debated — possibly 'beloved,' 'bitter,' or 'wished-for child.'

How do you pronounce Marie?

It is said mah-REE — two syllables with stress on the second.

Is Marie a boy or girl name?

Marie is exclusively a girls' name.

How popular is Marie?

Marie has been among the most common girls' names in Western history and remains widely used in the U.S. today, particularly as a middle name.