Miriam
Miriam was the 246th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 1,262 babies. Its best year was 1917, when it ranked 134th; the most babies were born in 1924 (1,834). Over the last ten years it has moved up 47 places. More babies were named Miriam in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Meaning Origin uncertain · Hebrew
Say it MEER-ee-uhm /ˈmɪriəm/
- Rank in 2025
- #246 girls, up 22 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 1,262girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 19241,834 babies
- Total since 1880
- 118,190babies recorded
What does the name Miriam mean?
Miriam is the Hebrew name of the prophetess, sister of Moses and Aaron, in the Book of Exodus. Wiktionary says its meaning has been debated for centuries: a link with a root meaning 'to be bitter' is common, while others suggest 'rebellion' or other senses. DMNES, under Mary, notes that Mary and Miriam are the same name and were treated as one in the Middle Ages. Mira, Miri and Mimi are pet forms, as Wikipedia notes.
מִרְיָם (Biblical Hebrew, “Miryam”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. Meaning debated: 'bitter', 'rebellion' and other proposals.
Related names: Mary, Maria, Myriam, Mirjam, Mira, Miri.
See also: Hebrew names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Miriam', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Hebrew Bible, Exodus 15:20, JPS translation with notes (via Sefaria), Sefaria; verse reference and facts only, not quoted
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Mary', Durham University / The DMNES Editors
- Wikipedia, 'Miriam (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Nicknames for Miriam
The usual nicknames for Miriam are Mimi and Miri. Some parents skip the long form: for every 100 girls named Miriam in the last five years, 4 were named Miri, against fewer than 1 twenty years earlier.
Nicknames reviewed by our editors; counts are girls given the nickname as their legal first name. Nobody records how many Miriams go by each one.
Miriam popularity since 1880
A few boys are given the name too: 280 since 1918.
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #246 | 1,262 |
| 2020 | #268 | 1,151 |
| 2010 | #300 | 1,086 |
| 2000 | #278 | 1,162 |
| 1990 | #284 | 983 |
| 1980 | #310 | 781 |
| 1970 | #370 | 655 |
| 1960 | #281 | 1,051 |
| 1950 | #264 | 841 |
| 1940 | #231 | 735 |
| 1930 | #183 | 1,052 |
| 1920 | #140 | 1,744 |
| 1910 | #186 | 368 |
| 1900 | #214 | 214 |
| 1890 | #275 | 83 |
| 1880 | #303 | 28 |
How popular is Miriam, counting every spelling?
Miriam is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #265 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #246 for Miriam on its own. Together these spellings went to 1,289 girls in 2025.
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Miriam?
1,262 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Miriam (0.35 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Miriam 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 7 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Miriam.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Miriam?
About 73,300 people born in the US named Miriam are alive today, with a median age of 34; half are between 17 and 60. That makes Miriam mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties. The wide spread shows a name popular in two different eras.
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.
Miriam by state
How common Miriam was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in New Jersey (6.3×), New York (4.8×), Indiana (1.6×), Nebraska (1.5×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Nevada, Florida, Mississippi.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Miriam: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Miriam, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Miriam · Sibling names for Miriam
Questions about the name Miriam
What does Miriam mean?
The origin of Miriam is uncertain: Meaning debated: 'bitter', 'rebellion' and other proposals.
How popular is the name Miriam?
Miriam was the 246th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 1,262 babies. Its best year was 1917, when it ranked 134th; the most babies were born in 1924 (1,834). Over the last ten years it has moved up 47 places. More babies were named Miriam in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Is Miriam a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Miriam in the US.
Where is Miriam most popular?
In 2021–2025, Miriam was most common in New Jersey (4.81 per 1,000 girls), followed by New York and Indiana.