Miriam

Meaning: Bitter; or possibly rebellion/disobedience
Origin: Hebrew (from Hebrew (via Aramaic)) — Hebrew roots; debated

Girl's name · #246 in the US (2025) · Timeless

Popularity over time

Miriam has held steady since 1880, standing at #246 in 2025. Sixty straight years of records barely move it — one of the steadiest names in American use.

Across the states

In recent years, Miriam ran 4–5× its national rate in New Jersey and New York—ranked #29 in New Jersey in 2025.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 41 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Miriam ranks in other countries and regions.

#29 in Austria (2025) · #148 in Mexico (2024) · #176 in Norway (2025) · #199 in Poland (2025) · #237 in England & Wales (2025) · #286 in Ireland (2025) · #315 in Sweden (2025) · #418 in Switzerland (2025) · #432 in Belgium (2025) · #484 in N. Ireland (2025) · #523 in Scotland (2025) · #814 in Ecuador (2025) and 2 more.

Famous Miriams

Miriam Makeba — South African singer and civil rights activist (1932–2008)
Miriam Hopkins — American actress (1902–1972)
Miriam Margolyes — British-Australian actress
Miriam Rodríguez Martínez — Mexican human rights activist
Miriam Oremans — Dutch tennis player

In stories & tradition

Miriam — Exodus (Bible)
Miriam Sharpe — Marvel Comics

What Miriams become

Among 1,960 notable people named Miriam:

Medical professionals appear 3.05× more often than among typical names — e.g. Miriam Adhikari, South African physician and scientist.

Similar names: Maryam · Esther · Myra · Jane · Anne · Annie

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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