mamie

Mamie is a feminine given name, often a diminutive form of Mary or Marie in English-speaking contexts. It is also a French affectionate term for grandmother, used similarly to “grandma” or “granny” in English.

As a proper name, Mamie experienced notable usage in the United States during the early to mid-20th century, and while less common today, it remains in occasional use. The name has been borne by several public figures, contributing to its historical presence in American culture.

Notable people with the given name Mamie include Mamie Eisenhower (1896–1969), First Lady of the United States from 1953 to 1961, wife of Dwight D. Eisenhower; Mamie Till-Mobley (1921–2003), civil rights advocate and mother of Emmett Till; Mamie Smith (1883–1946), a pioneering African American singer, pianist, and vaudeville performer; and Mamie Phipps Clark (1917–1983), psychologist known for the Clark doll experiments with her husband Kenneth B. Clark.

In French, “mamie” remains a common informal term for grandmother, used in family speech and literature. The name Mamie may also appear in various cultural contexts as a nickname or character name, sometimes chosen for its nostalgic or familial associations.

See also: variations and related names such as Mary, Marie, or diminutives used in other languages.