The first name Miriam
A girl’s name from Hebrew meaning “bitter”, “to be bitter”.
Pronounced /ˈmɪɹi.əm/ 3 syllables Female
Meaning and origin
Hebrew origin
Miriam means “bitter”, “to be bitter” in Hebrew.
From Hebrew מִרְיָם (Miryam), possibly from Aramaic מרים (Maryām, “bitter”), from a root מר (m-r) meaning "to be bitter". The meaning of this name which is the Old Testament equivalent of Mary has been debated for centuries. Some other explanations are mutiny / rebellion / disobedience from a root מרי (m-r-y).
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 197 girls were named Miriam, making it the 237th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2022, with 204 births (#230).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Miriam with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Miriam at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 1,262 girls born in the United States were named Miriam, the 246th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1924, when 1,834 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Miriam in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Spelled Miriam in Czech, Danish, Dutch, German, Italian, Norwegian and Portuguese too.
Nicknames and spellings
Famous people named Miriam
51 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Miriam HopkinsAmerican actress (1902-1972)
- Miriam MargolyesBritish-Australian actress, born 1941
- Miriam OremansDutch tennis player, born 1972
- Miriam StevensonAmerican actress and model, born 1933
- Miriam A. FergusonAmerican politician (1875-1961)
- Miriam Defensor SantiagoFilipina politician, lawyer, and author (1945–2016)
- Miriam AdelsonAmerican-Israeli physician and business billionaire (born in 1945)
- Miriam NeureutherGerman cross-country skier and biathlete, born 1990
- Miriam ShorAmerican actress, born 1971
- Miriam WelteGerman cyclist, born 1986
- Miriam CooperAmerican actress (1891–1976)
- Miriam RothschildBritish natural scientist and author (1908-2005)
More Hebrew girls’ names
Questions
- What does the name Miriam mean?
- Miriam means “bitter”, “to be bitter” in Hebrew.
- What is the origin of the name Miriam?
- From Hebrew מִרְיָם (Miryam), possibly from Aramaic מרים (Maryām, “bitter”), from a root מר (m-r) meaning "to be bitter". The meaning of this name which is the Old Testament equivalent of Mary has been debated for centuries. Some other explanations are mutiny / rebellion / disobedience from a root…
- How popular is the name Miriam?
- In 2025, 197 girls born in England and Wales were named Miriam, ranking 237th. Its peak was 2022, with 204 births.
- What are nicknames for Miriam?
- Common nicknames for Miriam include Mims, Mim.
- Is Miriam a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 118,190 US babies named Miriam since 1880 were girls.
- When was Miriam most popular?
- 1924 in the United States, when 1,834 babies were named Miriam, its highest rank at 143rd.
- How do you pronounce Miriam?
- Miriam is /ˈmɪɹi.əm/, 3 syllables.
- What are other spellings of Miriam?
- Miryam and Myriam.