Compound of Mary and Ann, from Hebrew Miriam and Hannah; the fused form became popular in mid-century America as an alternative to hyphenated versions.
Nicknames
mary · ann
Vibe
gentle
How it ages.
Mid-century American through and through; sounds warm but dated.
The cultural moment.
Common in the US from the 1940s through 1970s; now mostly grandmother-generation. Also spelled Mary-Ann.