Rosemary

Latin or English

"dew of the sea, or rosemary (herb)"

Rosemary Origin and Meaning

The name Rosemary is a girl's name of Latin origin meaning "dew of the sea, or rosemary (herb)".

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; many parents are now looking to the stand-alone nickname Romy.

Rosemary Rank in US Top 1000

# 311 in the US

Rosemary Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

# 317 on Nameberry

Popularity of the name Rosemary

• 311 US 2023
• 317 Nameberry 2025
• 321 Future 2028
• 488 England 2023

20 Names Similar to Rosemary

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Rosemary.

• Pearl
• Bonnie
• Esther
• Magnolia
• Ramona
• Viola
• Dorothy
• Tabitha
• Sylvia
• Flora
• Marigold
• Phoebe
• Beatrix
• Constance
• Agnes
• Opal
• Florence
• Hermione
• Felicity
• June

Famous People Named Rosemary

• 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

The name 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

International Variations of the name Rosemary

• Rosemarie French