Miriam Name Meaning

Helen Doanna

By Helen Doanna

Lastest Updated July 9, 2024
Home » Baby Names » Miriam Name Meaning

Fact: In Jewish tradition, Miriam is considered a prophetess and played a key role in the Exodus story.

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A Deep Dive

Miriam Overview

Meaning

Wished-for child, bitter, sea of sorrow

Gender

Girl

Origin

Hebrew

Etymology

Derived from the Hebrew name “Miryam”

Religion

Judaism, Christianity

Pronunciation

/ˈmɪriəm/

Popularity

Miriam is a timeless name cherished in many countries, including Israel, Germany, and the USA. In 2023, Miriam ranked #293 for girls in the USA.

Syllable

2 syllables

Length

6 letters

Numerology

9 (Humanitarian, Selfless, Creative)

Name Styles

Traditional, Classic, Nature-inspired

Associated Traits

Graceful, thoughtful, nurturing

Spiritual, Religious, or Cultural Significance

Strongly associated with the biblical figure Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron, known for her leadership and faith.

Name Day

November 1 (Germany)
A Deep Dive

Miriam Variations in Different Cultures

Popular Variations

Maryam, Miryam, Mariam, Miriamne, Myriam

Common Nicknames

Mimi, Miri, Mira, Ria, Emmy

Diminutives

Mimi, Mir, Riri, Mari

Famous People

  • Miriam Makeba
    (South African Singer and Civil Rights Activist)
  • Miriam Margolyes
    (British-Australian Actress)
  • Miriam Hopkins
    (American Actress)
  • Miriam Toews
    (Canadian Author)

Pop Culture Icons and Works

  • Miriam Maisel
    ("The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," TV Series)
  • Miriam
    ("A Handful of Dust," Novel)
  • Miriam
    ("Miriam's Song," Novel)
  • "Miriam"
    (Song by Nora Guthrie)
  • Miriam
    ("Crossing Delancey," Film)
  • "Miriam's Garden"
    (TV Series)

Places

  • Miriam Vale Town
    (Queensland, Australia)
  • Miriam College
    (Quezon City, Philippines)

What Is the Meaning of Miriam?

Miriam, translating to “wished-for child” or “beloved” in Hebrew, is often linked to qualities of love, desire, and a cherished presence.

What Is the Origin of The Name Miriam?

Miriam has Hebrew roots, stemming from the name Miryam. It is believed to have ancient connections to both Egyptian and Hebrew languages, carrying meanings related to belovedness and desire.

Miriam Name Popularity

Popularity Chart of the Name Miriam in the U.S. over the Years

United States flagUnited States#2582021#2612022#2512023
Top 3 Rankings#1341917#1371918#1381915

Annual Statistics Breakdown for Miriam

YearName RankingNumber of BirthsBirth Rate (%)
2023251
(+10 from 2022)
1234
(+35 from 2022)
0.07055
2022261
(-3 from 2021)
1199
(+6 from 2021)
0.06687
2021258
(+10 from 2020)
1193
(+42 from 2020)
0.06659
2020268
(+17 from 2019)
1151
(-13 from 2019)
0.06511
2019285
(+15 from 2018)
1164
(+56 from 2018)
0.06344
2018300
(-16 from 2017)
1108
(-41 from 2017)
0.05958
2017284
(+6 from 2016)
1149
(+27 from 2016)
0.06082
2016290
(+3 from 2015)
1122
(+18 from 2015)
0.05796
2015293
(+11 from 2014)
1104
(+32 from 2014)
0.05659
2014304
(-16 from 2013)
1072
(-38 from 2013)
0.05480
2013288
(+17 from 2012)
1110
(+61 from 2012)
0.05758
2012305
(+27 from 2011)
1049
(+103 from 2011)
0.05409
2011332
(-32 from 2010)
946
(-138 from 2010)
0.04882
2010300
(+6 from 2009)
1084
(+6 from 2009)
0.05529
2009306
(-4 from 2008)
1078
(-22 from 2008)
0.05323
2008302
(-8 from 2007)
1100
(-46 from 2007)
0.05281
2007294
(-8 from 2006)
1146
(-13 from 2006)
0.05415
2006286
(-7 from 2005)
1159
(-32 from 2005)
0.05544
2005279
(-7 from 2004)
1191
(-7 from 2004)
0.05868
2004272
(+8 from 2003)
1198
(+86 from 2003)
0.05937
2003280
(-1 from 2002)
1112
(-7 from 2002)
0.05542
2002279
(+13 from 2001)
1119
(+43 from 2001)
0.05666
2001292
(-14 from 2000)
1076
(-86 from 2000)
0.05432
2000278
(+16 from 1999)
1162
(+115 from 1999)
0.05822
1999294
(+12 from 1998)
1047
(+53 from 1998)
0.05378
1998306
(+5 from 1997)
994
(+55 from 1997)
0.05128
1997311
(-24 from 1996)
939
(-69 from 1996)
0.04918
1996287
(-3 from 1995)
1008
(+29 from 1995)
0.05258
1995284
(-10 from 1994)
979
(-46 from 1994)
0.05095
1994274
(-6 from 1993)
1025
(+1 from 1993)
0.05258
1993268
(-5 from 1992)
1024
(-33 from 1992)
0.05194
1992263
(+10 from 1991)
1057
(+45 from 1991)
0.05273
1991273
(+10 from 1990)
1012
(+30 from 1990)
0.04977
1990283
(+30 from 1989)
982
(+171 from 1989)
0.04780
1989313
(+22 from 1988)
811
(+76 from 1988)
0.04071
1988335
(-15 from 1987)
735
(-23 from 1987)
0.03822
1987320
(-5 from 1986)
758
No change from 1986
0.04044
1986315
(+6 from 1985)
758
(+11 from 1985)
0.04107
1985321
(-15 from 1984)
747
(-40 from 1984)
0.04046
1984306
(+6 from 1983)
787
(+48 from 1983)
0.04364
1983312
(-12 from 1982)
739
(-73 from 1982)
0.04129
1982300
(+3 from 1981)
812
(+11 from 1981)
0.04476
1981303
(+6 from 1980)
801
(+20 from 1980)
0.04479
1980309
(+4 from 1979)
781
(+19 from 1979)
0.04386
1979313
(+39 from 1978)
762
(+150 from 1978)
0.04422
1978352
(-9 from 1977)
612
(-47 from 1977)
0.03723
1977343
(+2 from 1976)
659
(+40 from 1976)
0.04006
1976345
(-16 from 1975)
619
(-52 from 1975)
0.03938
1975329
(+32 from 1974)
671
(+73 from 1974)
0.04299
1974361
(+1 from 1973)
598
(+9 from 1973)
0.03818
1973362
(+13 from 1972)
589
(+17 from 1972)
0.03790
1972375
(-20 from 1971)
572
(-121 from 1971)
0.03547
1971355
(+15 from 1970)
693
(+38 from 1970)
0.03954
1970370
(+5 from 1969)
655
(+39 from 1969)
0.03576
1969375
(-30 from 1968)
616
(-37 from 1968)
0.03495
1968345
(+5 from 1967)
653
(-3 from 1967)
0.03819
1967350
(-2 from 1966)
656
(-10 from 1966)
0.03821
1966348
(-21 from 1965)
666
(-88 from 1965)
0.03793
1965327
(-7 from 1964)
754
(-99 from 1964)
0.04126
1964320
(-9 from 1963)
853
(-42 from 1963)
0.04358
1963311
(-19 from 1962)
895
(-97 from 1962)
0.04502
1962292
(+7 from 1961)
992
(+43 from 1961)
0.04894
1961299
(-18 from 1960)
949
(-101 from 1960)
0.04569
1960281
(+12 from 1959)
1050
(+94 from 1959)
0.05049
1959293
(-13 from 1958)
956
(-41 from 1958)
0.04599
1958280
(+15 from 1957)
997
(+46 from 1957)
0.04826
1957295
(-31 from 1956)
951
(-89 from 1956)
0.04533
1956264
No change from 1955
1040
(+15 from 1955)
0.05050
1955264
(-9 from 1954)
1025
(-22 from 1954)
0.05112
1954255
(+20 from 1953)
1047
(+141 from 1953)
0.05259
1953275
(-11 from 1952)
906
(-4 from 1952)
0.04696
1952264
(-1 from 1951)
910
(+39 from 1951)
0.04784
1951263
(+1 from 1950)
871
(+30 from 1950)
0.04715
1950264
(+26 from 1949)
841
(+133 from 1949)
0.04782
1949290
(-1 from 1948)
708
(+10 from 1948)
0.04033
1948289
(-8 from 1947)
698
(-58 from 1947)
0.04005
1947281
(-6 from 1946)
756
(+57 from 1946)
0.04159
1946275
(-15 from 1945)
699
(+27 from 1945)
0.04334
1945260
(-3 from 1944)
672
(-38 from 1944)
0.04992
1944257
(+5 from 1943)
710
(+2 from 1943)
0.05196
1943262
(-3 from 1942)
708
(+2 from 1942)
0.04932
1942259
(-17 from 1941)
706
(-9 from 1941)
0.05077
1941242
(-11 from 1940)
715
(-19 from 1940)
0.05738
1940231
No change from 1939
734
(+21 from 1939)
0.06213
1939231
(-11 from 1938)
713
(-55 from 1938)
0.06287
1938220
(+1 from 1937)
768
(+16 from 1937)
0.06728
1937221
(-8 from 1936)
752
(-17 from 1936)
0.06825
1936213
(+3 from 1935)
769
(-23 from 1935)
0.07137
1935216
(+2 from 1934)
792
(-26 from 1934)
0.07288
1934218
(-32 from 1933)
818
(-94 from 1933)
0.07558
1933186
(+15 from 1932)
912
(+8 from 1932)
0.08719
1932201
(+7 from 1931)
904
(+35 from 1931)
0.08171
1931208
(-25 from 1930)
869
(-183 from 1930)
0.07873
1930183
(+1 from 1929)
1052
(-22 from 1929)
0.09019
1929184
(-16 from 1928)
1074
(-176 from 1928)
0.09278
1928168
(-6 from 1927)
1250
(-127 from 1927)
0.10456
1927162
(-7 from 1926)
1377
(-133 from 1926)
0.11137
1926155
(-1 from 1925)
1510
(-90 from 1925)
0.12275
1925154
(-11 from 1924)
1600
(-234 from 1924)
0.12667
1924143
(+2 from 1923)
1834
(+101 from 1923)
0.14155
1923145
(+6 from 1922)
1733
(+94 from 1922)
0.13837
1922151
(-4 from 1921)
1639
(-104 from 1921)
0.13137
1921147
(-7 from 1920)
1743
(-1 from 1920)
0.13620
1920140
(+5 from 1919)
1744
(+203 from 1919)
0.14019
1919145
(-8 from 1918)
1541
(-167 from 1918)
0.13119
1918137
(-3 from 1917)
1708
(+94 from 1917)
0.14205
1917134
(+6 from 1916)
1614
(+154 from 1916)
0.14363
1916140
(-2 from 1915)
1460
(+83 from 1915)
0.13447
1915138
(+11 from 1914)
1377
(+396 from 1914)
0.13449
1914149
(-3 from 1913)
981
(+155 from 1913)
0.12314
1913146
(+13 from 1912)
826
(+140 from 1912)
0.12612
1912159
(+5 from 1911)
686
(+199 from 1911)
0.11692
1911164
(+22 from 1910)
487
(+119 from 1910)
0.11023
1910186
(-10 from 1909)
368
(+29 from 1909)
0.08772
1909176
(-2 from 1908)
339
(-3 from 1908)
0.09210
1908174
(+9 from 1907)
342
(+41 from 1907)
0.09647
1907183
(-1 from 1906)
301
(+28 from 1906)
0.08920
1906182
(+18 from 1905)
273
(+39 from 1905)
0.08710
1905200
(-1 from 1904)
234
(+7 from 1904)
0.07552
1904199
(-7 from 1903)
227
(+9 from 1903)
0.07762
1903192
(+17 from 1902)
218
(+18 from 1902)
0.07836
1902209
(-20 from 1901)
200
(-18 from 1901)
0.07134
1901189
(+25 from 1900)
218
(+4 from 1900)
0.08575
1900214
(-9 from 1899)
214
(+33 from 1899)
0.06735
1899205
(+13 from 1898)
181
(+5 from 1898)
0.07313
1898218
(-17 from 1897)
176
(-12 from 1897)
0.06420
1897201
(+10 from 1896)
188
(+19 from 1896)
0.07572
1896211
(-5 from 1895)
169
No change from 1895
0.06707
1895206
(+8 from 1894)
169
(+17 from 1894)
0.06839
1894214
(+40 from 1893)
152
(+44 from 1893)
0.06441
1893254
(+31 from 1892)
108
(+20 from 1892)
0.04795
1892285
(-14 from 1891)
88
(+5 from 1891)
0.03913
1891271
(+2 from 1890)
83
No change from 1890
0.04223
1890273
(-11 from 1889)
83
(+3 from 1889)
0.04116
1889262
(+33 from 1888)
80
(+16 from 1888)
0.04228
1888295
(+19 from 1887)
64
(+18 from 1887)
0.03378
1887314
(-37 from 1886)
46
(-10 from 1886)
0.02960
1886277
(+36 from 1885)
56
(+14 from 1885)
0.03643
1885313
(-28 from 1884)
42
(-3 from 1884)
0.02959
1884285
(+15 from 1883)
45
(+11 from 1883)
0.03271
1883300
(-22 from 1882)
34
(-6 from 1882)
0.02832
1882278
(+23 from 1881)
40
(+13 from 1881)
0.03457
1881301
(-7 from 1880)
27
(-1 from 1880)
0.02731
1880294
First SSA data recorded
28
First SSA data recorded
0.02869

American States Popularity Rankings for Miriam

(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Number of Births )

New York (NY)

New York (NY) flagNew York (NY)#392021#402022#402023

Pennsylvania (PA)

Pennsylvania (PA) flagPennsylvania (PA)#2032021#2362022#2162023

California (CA)

California (CA) flagCalifornia (CA)#4572021#4272022#4242023

Texas (TX)

Texas (TX) flagTexas (TX)#5332021#4882022#4992023

New Jersey (NJ)

New Jersey (NJ) flagNew Jersey (NJ)#392021#342022#272023

Ohio (OH)

Ohio (OH) flagOhio (OH)#3192021#2452022#3682023

Illinois (IL)

Illinois (IL) flagIllinois (IL)#5462021#4662022#2802023

Georgia (GA)

Georgia (GA) flagGeorgia (GA)#6672021#6302022#5152023

Massachusetts (MA)

Massachusetts (MA) flagMassachusetts (MA)#3942021#4342022#5282023

South Carolina (SC)

South Carolina (SC) flagSouth Carolina (SC)#6552021#3602022#3842023

Florida (FL)

Florida (FL) flagFlorida (FL)#5192021#6052022#4802023

North Carolina (NC)

North Carolina (NC) flagNorth Carolina (NC)#4472021#4592022#5132023

Indiana (IN)

Indiana (IN) flagIndiana (IN)#1822021#2662022#2792023

Michigan (MI)

Michigan (MI) flagMichigan (MI)#3892021#3122022#3992023

Maryland (MD)

Maryland (MD) flagMaryland (MD)#2752021#3152022#2392023

Virginia (VA)

Virginia (VA) flagVirginia (VA)#2802021#4922022#4302023

Alabama (AL)

Alabama (AL) flagAlabama (AL)#4342021#2692022#5502023

Washington (WA)

Washington (WA) flagWashington (WA)#2862021#2422022#2772023

Louisiana (LA)

Louisiana (LA) flagLouisiana (LA)#5132021#6192022#9402023

Missouri (MO)

Missouri (MO) flagMissouri (MO)#3882021#3462022#3802023

Iowa (IA)

Iowa (IA) flagIowa (IA)#2492021#4272022#2662023

Wisconsin (WI)

Wisconsin (WI) flagWisconsin (WI)#2942021#2542022#2682023

Minnesota (MN)

Minnesota (MN) flagMinnesota (MN)#3202021#2922022#2192023

Connecticut (CT)

Connecticut (CT) flagConnecticut (CT)#2802020#5302022#5032023

Tennessee (TN)

Tennessee (TN) flagTennessee (TN)#5852021#5932022#3532023

Arizona (AZ)

Arizona (AZ) flagArizona (AZ)#6682021#4762022#5362023

Colorado (CO)

Colorado (CO) flagColorado (CO)#3602021#4292022#2202023

Mississippi (MS)

Mississippi (MS) flagMississippi (MS)#2852020#4552021#5122023

Utah (UT)

Utah (UT) flagUtah (UT)#6152021#3092022#3362023

Oregon (OR)

Oregon (OR) flagOregon (OR)#2462021#3942022#2212023

District of Columbia (DC)

District of Columbia (DC) flagDistrict of Columbia (DC)#2292017#2562018#2592020

Kentucky (KY)

Kentucky (KY) flagKentucky (KY)#6182021#3732022#2892023

Kansas (KS)

Kansas (KS) flagKansas (KS)#3502020#3752022#4802023

Nebraska (NE)

Nebraska (NE) flagNebraska (NE)#4032018#3452021#2042023

Oklahoma (OK)

Oklahoma (OK) flagOklahoma (OK)#8062021#8232022#6002023

Hawaii (HI)

Hawaii (HI) flagHawaii (HI)#1801959#2521962#2971969

Arkansas (AR)

Arkansas (AR) flagArkansas (AR)#4772021#4732022#5392023

New Mexico (NM)

New Mexico (NM) flagNew Mexico (NM)#3862012#4482016#3392017

Rhode Island (RI)

Rhode Island (RI) flagRhode Island (RI)#2251961#1681991#2231997

Maine (ME)

Maine (ME) flagMaine (ME)#2632016#2482018#2032019

West Virginia (WV)

West Virginia (WV) flagWest Virginia (WV)#3501952#3811955#3301964

Idaho (ID)

Idaho (ID) flagIdaho (ID)#3422020#3522021#4332023

Nevada (NV)

Nevada (NV) flagNevada (NV)#4512018#4812020#4262021

South Dakota (SD)

South Dakota (SD) flagSouth Dakota (SD)#1651943#2641964#1922023

New Hampshire (NH)

New Hampshire (NH) flagNew Hampshire (NH)#1721953#2542016#1982021

Montana (MT)

Montana (MT) flagMontana (MT)#1861942#2291977#2452013

North Dakota (ND)

North Dakota (ND) flagNorth Dakota (ND)#2301923#1651928#2141931

Vermont (VT)

Vermont (VT) flagVermont (VT)#1041918#1351920#1032020

Delaware (DE)

Delaware (DE) flagDelaware (DE)#1021922#731923#1691965

Alaska (AK)

Alaska (AK) flagAlaska (AK)#1672010

Wyoming (WY)

Wyoming (WY) flagWyoming (WY)#1272014

Popularity Rankings for Miriam in other Countries and American Territories

(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Rankings)

Popularity in Austria

Austria flagAustria#372020#322021#372022

Popularity in Galicia, Spain

Galicia, Spain flagGalicia, Spain#432001#492002#472003

Popularity in Italy

Italy flagItaly#472019#452020#472021

Popularity in Slovakia

Slovakia flagSlovakia#482013

Popularity in Spain

Spain flagSpain#782014#922015#922016

Popularity in Portugal

Portugal flagPortugal#862016#1152017#1052018

Popularity in Germany

Germany flagGermany#1192021#1182022#1362023

Popularity in Norway

Norway flagNorway#1632021#2092022#1652023

Popularity in Mexico

Mexico flagMexico#1692020#1642021

Popularity in Chile

Chile flagChile#1681993#1911994#1951995

Popularity in Poland

Poland flagPoland#1732021#2002022#1992023

Popularity in Argentina

Argentina flagArgentina#1771991#1821992#1921993

Popularity in Sweden

Sweden flagSweden#3192022#1962023

Popularity in Switzerland

Switzerland flagSwitzerland#1962020#3412021#3272022

Popularity in England and Wales

England and Wales flagEngland and Wales#2932019#2672020#2752021

Popularity in Quebec, Canada

Quebec, Canada flagQuebec, Canada#2672020#4332021#3082022

Popularity in Iceland

Iceland flagIceland#2972022

Popularity in Canada

Canada flagCanada#3172020#4232021#3982022

Popularity in Ireland

Ireland flagIreland#4302021#3172022#3642023

Popularity in Scotland

Scotland flagScotland#3692017#3222019#3962021

Popularity in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland flagNorthern Ireland#3362019#3542022#3912023

Popularity in New Zealand

New Zealand flagNew Zealand#3751996#4382011#4372019

Popularity in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico flagPuerto Rico#5822004#5592005#4472010

Source: Social Security Administration (SSA) and Other National Sources

Is Miriam a Name for Boys or Girls?

Miriam is predominantly a girl’s name. The name’s gentle and valued connotations are more commonly associated with girls in many cultures.

Variants, Nicknames, Diminutives, and Ideal Middle Names for Miriam

Miriam in Famous People Names, Pop Culture, and Places

  • Miriam Makeba (Singer, 1932–2008): A South African singer and civil rights activist who brought African music to a global audience.
  • Miriam Margolyes (Actress, born 1941): A British-Australian actress known for her roles in "Harry Potter" and numerous stage productions.
  • Miriam Hopkins (Actress, 1902–1972): An American actress who starred in both pre-Code and post-Code Hollywood films.
  • Miriam Toews (Author, born 1964): A Canadian author acclaimed for her novels exploring themes of family and community.
  • Miriam Yeung (Singer, born 1974): A Hong Kong singer and actress with a successful career in both music and film.
  • Miriam Makeba (Singer, 1932–2008): A South African singer and civil rights activist who brought African music to a global audience.
  • Miriam Defensor Santiago (Politician, 1945–2016): A Filipino politician and judge known for her legal expertise and fiery speeches.
  • Miriam Maisel ("The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," 2017 TV Series): A housewife who pursues a career in stand-up comedy in 1950s New York.
  • Miriam ("A Handful of Dust," 1934 Novel): A character who represents temptation and destruction in this satirical novel.
  • Miriam ("Miriam's Song," 2002 Novel): Chronicles the life of the biblical Miriam, sister of Moses and Aaron.
  • "Miriam" (1964 Song by Nora Guthrie): A folk song that tells the story of a woman named Miriam and her struggles.