A 1910s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Miriam since 1880
Babies named Miriam per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1924, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Miriam's real moment was 1917.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 462 |
| 1890s | 1,397 |
| 1900s | 2,566 |
| 1910s | 11,048 |
| 1920s | 15,504 |
| 1930s | 8,348 |
| 1940s | 7,107 |
| 1950s | 9,544 |
| 1960s | 8,084 |
| 1970s | 6,433 |
| 1980s | 7,729 |
| 1990s | 10,071 |
| 2000s | 11,356 |
| 2010s | 10,927 |
| 2020s | 7,334 |
Meaning & origin
Miriam is a name of Hebrew origin, borne in the Old Testament by the sister of Moses and Aaron. Its meaning is uncertain, with proposed roots including Egyptian 'beloved' or Hebrew 'bitter.' The name has seen enduring usage across Jewish and Christian communities. In the United States, Miriam peaked in popularity in 1917, when it ranked highest, and after a decline, it has been rising again since 1988. Today, it ranks 246th (2025), with about 1 in 1,274 girls receiving the name. Its highest usage per capita is in Vermont, New Jersey, and New York. Miriam is a classic choice that remains relevant without feeling dated.
Miriam is the original Hebrew form of Mary, appearing in the Old Testament as the name of Moses and Aaron's sister. The meaning is uncertain; proposed roots include the Egyptian mry 'beloved' or the Hebrew mar 'bitter.' The name has been widely used among Jewish and Christian families for centuries.
Where Miriam is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Miriam” around the world
Where Miriam lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
40
babies in 2024
Ireland
15
babies in 2025
Quebec
16
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mimi, Miri, Mira, Mia
Sibling names for Miriam
Names that share Miriam's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Esther, Naomi, Rebecca, Rachel, Leah, Mara, Martha, Ruth, Sara, Tabitha, Chana, Deliah, Dinah, Golda, Hadassah, Jael, Leora, Lizbeth, Meryl, Michal, Shoshana, Susannah, Tamar, Avigail, Batsheva, Davida, Delila, Devora, Devorah, Elisheva, Keturah, Marah, Rebekka, Suzannah, Tamarah, Tzipora, Vashti, Yadhira, Yocheved, Zipporah, Zuleyka, Athaliah, Batya, Betsabe, Cherith, Debborah, Deborrah, Dinorah, Esty, Gwendolen, Natanya, Netanya, Penina, Prescilla, Rahel, Raphaela, Renia, Rifka, Rivkah, Saloma, Sarha, Sheba, Shoshanna, Terressa, Tziporah, Tzipporah, Yudith, Zillah, Bathsheba, Channah, Charma, Debarah, Elisheba, Hananiah, Jocabed, Judieth, Katurah, Marili, Narcisa, Raguel, Ramah, Rovena, Ruthanna, Samuella, Sefora, Sheina, Shoshanah, Shoshannah, Sulamita, Tabita, Thamara, Hadessah, Jochebed, Milcah, Myrian, Abiah, Achsah, Asenat, Aseneth, Bassheva, Bekka, Chanah, Charna, Deborh, Devory, Hagar, Judithe, Judye, Orpah, Rebacca, Rebakah, Tabbetha, Tirsa, Yehudit
Brothers: Isaac, Jacob, Aaron, Eli, Samuel, Abraham, Asa, Elias, Elisha, Ezekiel, Gabriel, Israel, Jonah, Nathaniel, Uriel, Abimael, Dorien, Eleazar, Eliezer, Elihu, Enoch, Ephraim, Gerson, Hershel, Hezekiah, Hosea, Hyman, Immanuel, Isadore, Jaziel, Menachem, Mordechai, Moses, Moshe, Rubin, Samson, Saul, Shimon, Shmuel, Tzvi, Uriah, Yaakov, Yehuda, Yosef, Zachariah, Zechariah, Abiel, Aharon, Ahron, Amiel, Avrohom, Benaiah, Binyomin, Efraim, Efrem, Eliazar, Eliud, Eliyahu, Esau, Ezekial, Gamaliel, Hershell, Isreal, Jafet, Jairus, Japheth, Jariel, Jedediah, Jeriah, Josias, Leviticus, Mordecai, Naftali, Nahum, Neftali, Obadiah, Ozias, Salomon, Sammuel, Sampson, Shlomo, Sholom, Simcha, Yakov, Yehoshua, Yeshua, Zacharia, Zackariah, Zebulon, Zuriel, Abdias, Adonijah, Amaziah, Asiel, Avram, Benuel, Benyamin, Danel, Darvis, Doniel, Elazar, Eliab, Emmanual, Ephram, Ephriam, Ezriel, Gershon, Gomer, Herchel, Hershal, Hurshel, Isrrael, Jaasiel, Jabin, Jebediah, Jedadiah, Jediah, Jehu, Jeremia, Jezreel, Joab, Jonnathan, Jotham, Jubal, Judas, Kemuel, Laban, Magdiel, Maron, Menashe, Mikhael, Mishael, Moishe, Naaman, Nachman, Naftoli, Naftuli, Namon, Nathaneal, Neftaly, Othniel, Otoniel, Pinchas, Reuel, Ruvim, Shaul, Shem, Thaddaeus, Tobiah, Uzziah, Uzziel, Yehudah, Yeshaya, Yoseph, Zadok, Zebadiah, Zebulun, Abdon, Absalom, Dovber, Elchonon, Eliakim, Eliasar, Elieser, Elihue, Eluzer, Ephrem, Ezechiel, Gershom, Hershall, Imanuel, Ishmail, Ishmeal, Izekiel, Jafeth, Jahaziel, Jasher, Jehiel, Johanan, Joram, Manoah, Matthan, Nahshon, Nathanyel, Nesanel, Nimrod, Obediah, Reuven, Shlome, Urias, Usiel, Yahshua, Yechezkel, Yerachmiel, Yochanan, Zalmen, Aser, Isack, Jerimah, Abba, Abednego, Amram, Azarel, Baruch, Chayim, Eliazer, Eliyohu, Elizar, Esaul, Ezekiah, Gad, Gaddiel, Gedeon, Hanniel, Hymie, Isaack, Ishmel, Issachar, Jebidiah, Jefte, Jemuel, Jeptha, Jeramia, Maruice, Meshulem, Mizraim, Moyses, Naftula, Nathanyal, Nephtali, Noach, Nussen, Otniel, Peretz, Pinches, Ruven, Sadrac, Selig, Shadrack, Shemuel, Solly, Thaddeaus, Yaacov, Yohanan, Yossef, Zacharius, Zebulan, Zecharia, Zelig
Names like Miriam
Names whose popularity has moved with Miriam's over the last 50 years.
