Miriam
beloved, wished-for
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Religion
- Christian
- Gender
- Girl
- Country
- United States
- Pronunciation
- MEER-ee-um
- Popularity
- stable
Common nicknames
MiriMim
About the name Miriam
Miriam is a girl name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved, wished-for". It is most commonly used in Christian families and is especially popular in United States.
Miriam is the prophetess who watches over the infant Moses and leads the song at the sea — the earliest form of the name that later becomes Mary and Maryam. It has remained in continuous Jewish use for millennia while the Mary line moved through Christian Europe, so choosing Miriam is essentially choosing the older branch of a very old tree.
Variants and spellings: Maryam, Mary, Mariam.
Popularity trend: Miriam has held a steady level of use rather than spiking or fading.
Reviewed by the Babbloom Editorial Team. Read our editorial methodology.
Frequently asked about Miriam
- What does the name Miriam mean?
- Miriam means "beloved, wished-for". It's a girl name of Hebrew origin, most commonly used in Christian families and popular in United States.
- Where does the name Miriam come from?
- Miriam originates from Hebrew. On Babbloom it's classified in the Christian naming tradition.
- Is Miriam a boy or girl name?
- Miriam is a girl name.