How to say it
MIR · i · am
ˈmɪr.i.əm
Feminine
Miriam
Beloved, or 'bitter'
What it means
Hebrew Miryam, the original of Mary, Maria, and all their cousins. Moses's older sister, who watched her baby brother in the bulrushes; the first prophetess named in the Torah.
Miriam is the original Hebrew form that became Mary, Maria, Marie, María, and every other related name across the Christian world. The root is debated: traditional readings give 'beloved' (from an Egyptian root), 'bitter' (mar), or 'wished-for child.' In Exodus, Miriam is Moses's older sister; she watches the basket containing the infant Moses in the bulrushes, then arranges for Moses's own Hebrew mother to be his wet-nurse in Pharaoh's household. She's named as a prophetess and leads the women in song after the Red Sea crossing. The English Miriam stayed in use among Jewish families and Puritans; it surged with the broader Old Testament revival in the 2010s. Common shorts: Miri, Mim.
How to spell Miriam
The standard spelling is Miriam. Common variants include Maryam, Mariam, but Miriam is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #134 in 1917, currently #246 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
Miriam (the Hebrew form), Mary (English), Maria (Latinate), and Mariam (Arabic) are all the same root in different traditions. Miriam reads most directly as Jewish-tradition.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Miriam (Bible) Moses's older sister, watched her baby brother in the bulrushes; prophetess in Exodus
- Miriam Margolyes British actress, Harry Potter and Call the Midwife
Spelling variants
- Maryam
- Mariam
Names with the same feeling
See Miriam from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Miriam mean?
- Hebrew Miryam, the original of Mary, Maria, and all their cousins. Moses's older sister, who watched her baby brother in the bulrushes; the first prophetess named in the Torah.
- What does Miriam mean in Hebrew?
- In Hebrew, Miriam means "Beloved, or 'bitter'." Miriam is the original Hebrew form that became Mary, Maria, Marie, María, and every other related name across the Christian world. The root is debated: traditional readings give 'beloved' (from an Egyptian root), 'bitter' (mar), or 'wished-for child.' In Exodus, Miriam is Moses's older sister; she watches the basket containing the infant Moses in the bulrushes, then arranges for Moses's own Hebrew mother to be his wet-nurse in Pharaoh's household. She's named as a prophetess and leads the women in song after the Red Sea crossing. The English Miriam stayed in use among Jewish families and Puritans; it surged with the broader Old Testament revival in the 2010s. Common shorts: Miri, Mim.
- How do you pronounce Miriam?
- Miriam is pronounced ˈmɪr.i.əm. Say it as MIR-i-am, with the stress on the "mir" syllable.
- How do you spell Miriam?
- The standard spelling is Miriam. Common spelling variants include Maryam, Mariam.
- Is Miriam a boy or girl name?
- Miriam is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Miriam?
- Miriam ranked #246 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.