Mary
A form of Maria
Mary, in English
The two great feasts of the Theotokos — the Dormition and the Entry.
It keeps the same day as the name it comes from — everything below is that name’s.
Origin
The story of Maria
Maria keeps two feasts of the Mother of God: 15 August, the Dormition of the Theotokos, and 21 November, her Entry into the Temple.
By a Greek custom the two days divide: married women keep the Dormition on 15 August, and unmarried women the Entry on 21 November. It is a living convention the calendars record — both dates real, both displayed.
The name is a form of Mary — Μαρία, from the Hebrew מרים (Miriam) by way of the Aramaic Maryam. Its meaning is genuinely unsettled: “bitter,” “beloved,” “drop of the sea” have all been proposed, and none is agreed — a point worth keeping honest.
“A form of Mary — from Miriam, its meaning long disputed.”
onomasti · MariaKey facts
Maria at a glance
Variations
Forms & nicknames of the name
One name takes many forms — the formal, the everyday, the affectionate, and the spellings that travelled abroad. Each has its own page here, and all share the same day.
Greek forms
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Namesakes
Notable people named Maria
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