Miri
An Indian feminine given name derived from Sanskrit meaning "ocean".
Name Census estimates that about 806 living Americans carry the first name Miri. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Miri today is around 17 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Miri births was 2022 (50 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Miri. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
806
~ 1 in 425,254 Americans
Peak year
2022
50 babies that year
Average age
17
years old
2024 SSA rank
#3,613
Tracked since 1962
Popularity
Miri: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Miri from the 1960s through to the 2020s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 317 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Miri remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Miri by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Miri during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Miris live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. New York, New Jersey, California recorded the most babies named Miri, while California, New Jersey, New York recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 126 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Miri
The name Miri has its origins rooted in various cultures and languages across the world. One of the earliest known references to the name can be traced back to the Hebrew language, where it is believed to be a diminutive form of the name Miriam, meaning "bitter" or "beloved."
In Persian culture, the name Miri is derived from the word "mir," which means "prince" or "leader." It was often given to children born into noble or ruling families. The name has also been associated with the Persian word "meri," meaning "sweet" or "pleasant."
The name Miri has also been found in Japanese culture, where it is written using the kanji characters 美里, meaning "beautiful village." In this context, the name is often associated with a sense of natural beauty and serenity.
Historically, the name Miri has been recorded in various ancient texts and scriptures. One notable example is the biblical figure Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron, who played a significant role in the Exodus story. Her name is believed to be the source of the modern variations, including Miri.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Miri. One such figure is Miri Regev (born 1965), an Israeli politician and former member of the Knesset. Another is Miri Maskin (born 1953), an American economist and professor at Harvard University, known for her contributions to game theory and mechanism design.
In the field of literature, Miri Littky (born 1952) is a renowned Israeli author and poet, recognized for her works exploring themes of identity, memory, and exile. Miri Ammerman (born 1947) is an American activist and advocate for disability rights, whose efforts have been instrumental in promoting accessibility and inclusivity.
Miri Ben-Ari (1932-2019) was an Israeli singer and actress, often referred to as the "First Lady of Israeli Song." Her music and performances played a significant role in shaping the cultural landscape of Israel during the 20th century.
While these are just a few examples, the name Miri has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures, each contributing to its rich history and legacy.
People
Miri + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Miri as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Miri: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Miri?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 806 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Miri going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 425,254 US residents.
Is Miri a common name?
We classify Miri as "Very Rare". It ranks above 88.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 824 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Miri most popular?
The single biggest year for Miri was 2022, when 50 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Miri is about 17 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Miri a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Miri in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.