Rosemary
Top 1000
About Rosemary
Despite appearances, Rosemary is not a "smoosh" name, not even a traditional one. The name derives from two Latin terms "Ros" meaning dew and Marinus meaning of the sea. The plant was termed dew of the sea due to its salty texture and its ability to thrive in coastal climes. Only after the Middle Ages did the English names of Rose and Mary become interchanged with the name Rosmarinus and give us the modern name we use today.
In ancient legend, Rosemary was draped around Aphrodite when she rose from the sea. It was regarded then as beneficial in strengthening the memory and became a symbol for faithful lovers. In Hamlet, Ophelia says "There's Rosemary, that's for remembrance; pray, love, remember."
The name was long associated with George Clooney's aunt, the great pop singer Rosemary; less pleasant associations are with the 1967 movie Rosemary's Baby.
A common variation is Rosemarie. Either name can be shortened to the adorable Rosie or the stylish Romy.
Pronounced ROHZ-mair-ee.
As of October 2026, Rosemary ranked #251 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #74 in 1946, Nameberry popularity #149.
Editor's take: The name Rosemary is a girl's name of Latin origin meaning "dew of the sea, or rosemary (herb)".
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank | Births | Per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #570 | 536 | 300.1 |
| 2015 | #517 | 607 | 340 |
| 2016 | #436 | 740 | 417.6 |
| 2017 | #454 | 698 | 404.3 |
| 2018 | #452 | 699 | 410.9 |
| 2019 | #405 | 770 | 458.8 |
| 2020 | #442 | 698 | 431.8 |
| 2021 | #363 | 846 | 515.6 |
| 2022 | #365 | 871 | 531.1 |
| 2023 | #310 | 995 | 620.1 |
| 2024 | #301 | 1,037 | 640 |
| 2025 | #251 | 1,222 | 760.3 |
World rankings
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Rosemary.
- Bonnie
- Pearl
- Esther
- Ramona
- Sisi
- Magnolia
- Sylvia
- Viola
- Tabitha
- Beatrix
- Flora
- Dorothy
- Marigold
- Felicity
- Phoebe
- Constance
- Agnes
- Minni
- Theodora
- Opal
Rosemary on lists
Famous Rosemarys
- Rosemary Clooney
American singer and actress, aunt of actor George Clooney
- Rosemary Friederike Isabella Eleonore Henriette Antonia
Princess of Salm,Salm; Archduchess Hubert Salvator of Austria
- Rosemary LaPlanche
actress and Miss America 1941
- Rosemary "Rosie" Casals
American tennis player
- Rosemary Ann Harris
English actress
- Rose Marie "Rosemary" Kennedy
eldest daughter of Joseph P. Kennedy, sister of U.S. President John F. Kennedy
- Rosemary Altea
English medium, author and TV personality
- Rosemary Wells
Children's book author
- Rosemary Sutcliff
English children' novelist
- Rosemary DeCamp
American actress
- Rosemary Dunsmore
Canadian actress
- Rosemary Murphy
American actress
- Rosemary Pereira Gonçalves
Brazilian singer
- Rosemary
ring name of Holly Letkeman, Canadian pro wrestler
- (Cecil) Rosemary Pratt
Marchioness Camden, first wife of Group Captain Peter Townsend, the one,time fiance of Britain's Princess Margaret
- Rosemary Ounsworth (b. 2008)
daughter of musician Alec Ounsworth of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
- Rosemary Dapkins (b. 2014)
daughter of actress Gaby Hoffman and Chris Dapkins
- Rosemary Keegan Kersey (b. 2018)
daughter of YouTuber Acacia Brinley Kersey and Jairus Kersey
Rosemary in pop culture
- Rosemary Woodhouse
main character in Ira Levin's "Rosemary's Baby" and 1968 film
- Rosemary Pilkington
character in musical "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"
- Rosemary
a character in the book/movie "The Giver"
- Rosemary Dawkins
character in the "Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls" series
- Rosemary Lewis
intellectual in "Cumberland in The Silken Net" (1974) by Melvyn Bragg
- Rosemary Shanahan
character in movie "Shallow Hal"
- Rosemary
couple name for Rose Lalonde and Kanaya Maryam in webcomic "Homestuck"
- Rosemary
main character in 'We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves' by Karen Joy Fowler
- Rosemary Daniels
character in Australian soap "Neighbours"
- Rosemary Venitia King
character on British soap "Emmerdale"
- Rosemary Telesco
character in "Little Manhatten"
- "Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes
" song by Edison Lighthouse
- "Lily
Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts," song by Bob Dylan
- 'Dear Rosemary'
song by Foo Fighters
- Rosemary Winters
character in the "Resident Evil" video game series
Variations & nicknames
- RosemarieFrench
More nicknames
- Rose bud