Find out how popular the first name Meriem has been for the last 20 years (from 2000 to 2019) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Meriem by gender

Based on the last 20 years of data, Meriem is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2019, there were 9 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Meriem.

The history of the first name Meriem

Meriem is a feminine given name with roots tracing back to ancient Aramaic and Hebrew languages. It is a variant spelling of the name Miriam, derived from the Hebrew word "mar" meaning bitter or beloved. The name likely originated around 1300 BCE in the Levant region of the Middle East.

This name carries significant religious and cultural significance in Judaism and Christianity. In the Bible's Old Testament, Miriam was the name of the sister of Moses and Aaron, a respected prophetess who led the Israelites in praise after their exodus from Egypt. The name Meriem appears in the Islamic Quran, referring to Mary the mother of Jesus.

Early recorded examples of the name include Miriam bat Amram, sister of Moses in the Book of Exodus around 1300 BCE. Mary the mother of Jesus, known as Meriem in Arabic, lived around 20 BCE to 30 CE. Meriem Belmihoub-Zerdani was an Algerian freedom fighter and revolutionary who lived from 1923 to 1996.

Throughout history, notable figures with this first name include Queen Meriem of Georgia (c. 1312 - 1340 CE), a monarch who ruled the Kingdom of Georgia. Meriem Fennell (1867 - 1954) was a Moroccan-American author, activist and first Muslim woman immigrant into the United States. Meriem Rhaiem (born 1986) is a contemporary Tunisian actress known for her roles in Arabic films.

Other historical examples are Meriem Belmihoub-Zerdani (1923 - 1996), an influential Algerian militant and activist during the Algerian War. Meriem Ismael (1956 - 1986) was a prominent Comorian lawyer and human rights activist who was assassinated for her political views. The name has maintained its usage across various regions and cultures over many centuries.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Meriem was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Meriem, please contact us.

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