Rosemary

A combination of Rose and Mary, referring to the flower as a symbol of Virgin Mary, first recorded in the eighteenth century. It is found in continental Europe as Rosemarie and Rosa Maria. After mid-nineteenth century when flower names became common it may also refer to the herb rosemary, Latin ros marinus "dew of the sea".

Rosemary

1. A female given name.
   • 1860 Jedediah Vincent Huntington, Rosemary: or, Life or Death, D.&J. Sadler, Co., 1860, page 175:

     "And you - you darling!" - addressing the astonished Rosemary - "will you love your grandmamma? Kiss me, my child." - - -

     "Oh, you tell fibs!" cried the child. "My name is Rose Marie Romarin - is it not, Grandpa?"

   • 1985 Alice Munro, The Progress of Love, Chatto&Windus 1987, →ISBN, page 53:

     Rosemary. A sweet dark name, though finally a shrill trite woman.

Borrowed from English Rosemary.

Rosemary

1. A female given name