Miriam
Girl nameMiriam has been given to 118,190 babies in the U.S. since 1880. It peaked in 1924 and currently ranks #246 for girls (2025).
Meaning & origin /ˈmɪɹi.əm/
From Hebrew מִרְיָם (Miryam), possibly from Aramaic מרים (Maryām, “bitter”), from a root מר (m-r) meaning "to be bitter". The meaning of this name which is the Old Testament equivalent of Mary has been debated for centuries. Some other explanations are mutiny / rebellion / disobedience from a root מרי (m-r-y).
Origin: Hebrew
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Popularity over time births per year, 1880–2025
Total babies
118,190
Peak year
1924 (1,834 babies)
Rank in 2025
#246 for girls
First recorded
1880
10-year trend
▲ +14%
Gender split
100% girls / 0% boys
Famous people named Miriam
Mary
Mother of Jesus Christ
Miriam Makeba
South African singer and civil rights activist (1932–2008)
Miriam
Sister of Moses and Aaron
Miriam Hopkins
American actress (1902-1972)
Notability data from Wikidata (CC0).
Names with a similar vibe
Same primary gender, peaked around the same years, and roughly as common as Miriam.
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