Declining since 2008.
Popularity of Meriam since 1897
Babies named Meriam per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 5 |
| 1900s | 15 |
| 1910s | 139 |
| 1920s | 281 |
| 1930s | 147 |
| 1940s | 122 |
| 1950s | 83 |
| 1960s | 54 |
| 1970s | 39 |
| 1980s | 64 |
| 1990s | 88 |
| 2000s | 160 |
| 2010s | 146 |
| 2020s | 48 |
Meaning & origin
Meriam has been in use in the United States since 1897, but it has always been a rare choice, never cracking the top 1,000 names in any given year. Its peak popularity came in 1923 during the decade of the 1920s, which was its strongest period of use. However, the name has been on a declining trajectory since 2008, and it is now increasingly uncommon. As a variant of Miriam, Meriam carries the same biblical resonance without the same historical weight, making it a subtle alternative for families seeking a traditional yet uncommon name.
Meriam is a variant of Miriam, the Hebrew form of the name of the sister of Moses and Aaron in the Old Testament. The name's etymology is debated; it may derive from Egyptian mry 'beloved' or Hebrew marah 'bitterness'. It has been used in Christian tradition since the Reformation, particularly in English-speaking countries.
“Meriam” around the world
Where Meriam lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
25
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Merry, Mia, Miri, Amy
Sibling names for Meriam
Names that share Meriam's style, for a brother or sister.
