Maryam
Maryam was the 351st most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 869 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 220 places. More babies were named Maryam in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning Arabic and Persian form of Mary (Miriam) · Hebrew, Arabic, Persian
Say it MAR-ee-um /ˈmɑriəm/
- Rank in 2025
- #351 girls, up 156 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 869girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2025869 babies
- Total since 1880
- 13,845babies recorded
What does the name Maryam mean?
Maryam is the Arabic and Persian form of Mary, from Hebrew Miryam. Sura 19 of the Quran is named after her and tells of the birth of Jesus (for example 19:16). DMNES says Miryam is of uncertain origin: it is often linked with a root meaning "bitter", while others suggest "rebellion". The Random House dictionary lists Marya and Maryam as forms of Mary.
مَرْيَم (Arabic, “Maryam”)מִרְיָם (Biblical Hebrew, “Miriam (meaning uncertain)”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. The form is clear; the meaning of Miryam is uncertain.
Other explanations you may read: means 'bitter'; means 'beloved'.
Related names: Mary, Miriam, Mariam, Maria.
See also: Hebrew names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Maryam', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources (ed. S. L. Uckelman), Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Mary', DMNES, Durham University
- Qur'an 19:16, Arabic text with word-by-word translation (quran.com), Quran.com
- Dictionary.com Unabridged (based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary), with Collins English Dictionary, s.v. 'Maryam', Dictionary.com / Random House / HarperCollins
Maryam popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #351 | 869 |
| 2020 | #507 | 600 |
| 2010 | #790 | 349 |
| 2000 | #923 | 235 |
| 1990 | #1,820 | 79 |
| 1980 | #1,822 | 60 |
| 1970 | #3,813 | 16 |
| 1960 | #5,513 | 7 |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Maryam, counting every spelling?
Maryam has no other common spelling that sounds the same. Counting every name's spellings together, it ranks #381 for girls in 2025, against #351 on the official list, because Londyn/London/Londynn and Jazlyn/Jazlynn/Jazzlyn and Macie/Maci/Macy move ahead once their spellings are combined.
How many kids will share the name Maryam?
869 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Maryam (0.24 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Maryam born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 10 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Maryam.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Maryam?
About 13,700 people born in the US named Maryam are alive today, with a median age of 11; half are between 5 and 20. That makes Maryam a young name: most people with it are children.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Maryam by state
How common Maryam was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in New York (3.3×), Michigan (2.5×), Illinois (2.3×), Minnesota (2.2×), Virginia (1.8×). In 18 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Maryam: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Maryam, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Maryam · Sibling names for Maryam
Questions about the name Maryam
What does Maryam mean?
Maryam is usually explained as “Arabic and Persian form of Mary (Miriam)”, but this is uncertain. Certainty: uncertain.
How popular is the name Maryam?
Maryam was the 351st most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 869 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 220 places. More babies were named Maryam in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Maryam a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Maryam in the US.
Where is Maryam most popular?
In 2021–2025, Maryam was most common in New York (1.52 per 1,000 girls), followed by Michigan and Illinois.