Mary, a young woman of Nazareth, received the angel's staggering announcement that she would bear the Son of God, and answered with the humblest yes in history: behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. Her song of praise, the Magnificat, still echoes: my soul doth magnify the Lord.
She treasured all these things in her heart, followed her Son to the cross, and was among the believers at Pentecost. The name — from the Hebrew Miriam — is also borne by Mary Magdalene, the first witness of the resurrection, and Mary of Bethany, who sat at Jesus' feet.
Mary is among the most beloved and enduring names in the world — simple, gentle, and forever honoured.
Variants & nicknames
Maria, Miriam, Marie, Mia, Molly, Maryam
Mary in the Bible
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.