About the name Miriam
The origin of Miriam is debated, and we couldn't confirm its meaning from a sourced etymology. A commonly cited theory links it to Hebrew roots, with the meaning “Beloved; or bitter (Hebrew form of Mary)”. Treat that as a theory, not a settled fact.
Why we say this: we only state a meaning as fact when a sourced etymology (Wiktionary, with its references) supports it. For Miriam we didn't find one we were confident in, so we show the popular explanation as a theory.
It has a vintage feel. In 2025, Miriam ranked #246 for girls in the US, with 1,262 babies given the name. Its peak year since 1940 was 2024. Since 2000, 100% of US babies named Miriam were girls.
- US rank 2025
- #246
- In 2015
- #293
- Babies in 2025
- 1,262
Popularity of Miriam, 1940–2025
Latest SSA data: 2025.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration national baby names (public domain; names given to at least 5 babies of one sex per year).
Hello, world
Miriam
Your last name
born on your big day
7 LB 4 OZ · 20 IN
The Baby Kit
See Miriam on a birth announcement
Birth announcements, shower invitations, nursery wall art and milestone cards, all personalized with Miriam. Type your details once and print at home or at any print shop.
Nicknames for Miriam
- Miri
Names similar to Miriam
Name meanings marked or linked “Wiktionary” are adapted from Wiktionary by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; each name page links its source entry.