A first name that had become very feminine was nevertheless mixed at a certain time. Today, we would be shocked to hear a man’s first name like this, and yet we find this first name in masculine forms – and this version will surprise no one.
Mentalities are changing and first names that we were used to hearing as masculine have gradually become more feminine, like the first name Charly, which has become mixed in its Charlie version. Today, it is even more attributed to little girls than to boys. Indeed, epicene first names are more and more trendy and some change gender, but one of them is particularly surprising. When we pronounce it, we immediately think of a feminine first name, worn by several queens of France and it even refers to an essential character from the Bible. However, at one time, it was also worn by men, you probably won’t believe it.
Indeed, the first name Mary comes from the Hebrew Myriam which means “she who raises”, and was borne by the mother of Jesus. Long considered too sacred, this first name which inspires so much deference and devotion remains little attributed by parents of the past. It was only from the 11th century that it began to spread in France and the Christian world, explains the work L’Officiel des Noms (First editions). Five queens of France also bore this feminine first name, like Marie de Médicis, Marie-Amélie de Bourbon-Siciles, Marie Tudor, Marie Stuart and even Marie-Antoinette. Thus, between the 15th and 20th centuries, Mary reigned over the ranking of female first names, and quickly became, with its derivatives Mary or Maria, the most popular girl’s first name in Western countries.
So when we are told that Mary was a mixed first name, often given in the late 19th century as a second or third first name to little boys, it may seem surprising. Actually, not that much. Since even today, the first name Marie is commonly given to men…
In its composed version, without it shocking anyone. Indeed, the list of masculine compound first names containing the first name Marie is long and we have all known or heard a man wearing a first name compound with Marie located at the beginning or at the end of the first name. Let us cite for example the first names André-Marie, François-Marie, Jean-Marie, Louis-Marie, Paul-Marie, Marie-Philippe, Philippe-Marie, Marie-Joseph, Pierre-Marie, or even Marie-Charles.