← All names

Rosemary

Girl name · 732 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Rosemary: 732 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 44 births in 1974.

With a delicate botanical charm, Rosemary comes from the Latin *Ros marinus*, meaning “dew of the sea,” a reference to its coastal native habitat. The name entered English as a floral name, deeply tied to remembrance and fidelity, famously invoked in Shakespeare’s *Hamlet* where Ophelia says, “Rosemary, that’s for remembrance.” A notable bearer was English-born actress Rosemary Harris, a Tony and Emmy winner. The form varies slightly across languages—Romina in Italian—while the plant itself is often associated with the Mediterranean. In Scotland, rosemary gardens thrive in coastal areas, giving the name a fresh, timeless feel without any place-name link.