MARY

Does the name Mary mean “rebellion” or “rebellious”?

It has been alleged that the name Mary also means “Rebellion”, even going so far as to claim that naming websites, like ours, are involved in a coverup to hide the true meaning of the name. The YouTube host Babylon Watch cites the Blue Letter Bible website which further cites Hitchcock’s Bible Name Dictionary where it is recorded that the name Mary is the same as Miriam, which simply means “rebellion”.

However, this claim is not accurate.

This claim appears to assume that the name Mary is an alternate or direct variant of Miriam, but that is not the case. Here are some details:

1) The name Mary is not a direct alternate of the ancient Hebrew name Miriam, or latter Hebrew Miryam, but rather a new derivative from those earlier ones.

2) The Old Testament name Miriam is known to be the sister of Moses whom has various mentions and the term “rebellion” is most likely associated with the book of Numbers Chapter 12, where she conspired with Moses’ brother Aaron against Moses, criticizing his matrimony to a Kushite woman and claiming that perhaps they were the real prophets of the LORD, not Moses. Rebellious indeed until they all met together and Miriam was made leprous as a punishment to her rebellion, while Aaron was let off the hook.

3) The meaning of the Hebrew name Miriam (along with the variant Miryam) is not commonly accepted to mean simply “rebellious”. The association with the rebellion against Moses was minor and realistically more of a temporary conspiracy than an actual rebellion. Not nearly enough to define the name. Furthermore, in Exodus 13 Miryam is quoted as saying, after the drowning of Pharaoh’s army into the Red Sea, “Sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted; The horse and his rider He has hurled into the sea.” This lends more strongly to the meaning “sea of bitterness” definition.

Taking all three points into account, it is plain to see why “naming sites” and “baby names sites” steer away from “rebellion” claim of definition and more towards the “sea of bitterness” and “beloved” meanings — especially for the modern name Mary and it’s numerous variants. It is the reason there are such words as “maritime”, “marine”, “marinate”; all having to do with salt water. Combined with the association of the later New Testament Mary (Mother of Jesus) and Mary Magdalene, we are easily led to understand why the name is so widely adopted for females throughout time — ideas of love, affection, being a cherished, and the bitter-sweetness of the sea.