Miriam first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Miriam has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Miriam

A feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "bitter" or "beloved".

Popularity of Miriam by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Miriam is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Miriam being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 1,234 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Miriam.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 0 1,234
2022 0 1,182
2021 0 1,191
2020 0 1,149
2019 0 1,162
2018 0 1,107
2017 6 1,149
2016 0 1,121
2015 0 1,102
2014 0 1,071
2013 0 1,108
2012 0 1,048
2011 0 946
2010 0 1,083
2009 0 1,076
2008 0 1,098
2007 0 1,146
2006 0 1,159
2005 0 1,188
2004 0 1,197
2003 0 1,108
2002 5 1,115
2001 0 1,076
2000 0 1,161
1999 5 1,046
1998 0 993
1997 9 939
1996 15 1,008
1995 8 979
1994 0 1,025
1993 7 1,024
1992 15 1,057
1991 11 1,012
1990 0 980
1989 16 811
1988 5 735
1987 0 758
1986 7 758
1985 8 747
1984 7 787
1983 7 739
1982 6 812
1981 8 800
1980 0 781
1979 0 762
1978 0 612
1977 5 659
1976 7 619
1975 9 671
1974 8 598

The history of the first name Miriam

The name Miriam has its origins in ancient Hebrew, derived from the root word "mar" meaning "bitter" or "rebellious." It is believed to be one of the oldest recorded female names in the world, dating back to around 1300 BCE.

In the Hebrew Bible, Miriam is the name of the sister of Moses and Aaron, who played a significant role in leading the Israelites out of Egypt. The Book of Exodus describes her as a prophetess and a leader among her people. Her name is mentioned in several ancient texts, including the Torah and the Quran.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Miriam comes from ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, where it is spelled "Mry-Amun," meaning "beloved of Amun" (the ancient Egyptian deity). This suggests that the name may have been in use in the region even before its appearance in Hebrew texts.

Throughout history, there have been numerous notable individuals named Miriam. One of the earliest was Miriam the Prophetess, the biblical figure mentioned in the Book of Exodus, who lived around the 13th century BCE. Another notable Miriam was Miriam of Tyana, a Christian saint and martyr who lived in the 3rd century CE.

In the Middle Ages, Miriam was a popular name among Jewish communities across Europe and the Middle East. One notable figure from this period was Miriam Montefiore (1784-1860), a philanthropist and wife of Sir Moses Montefiore, who worked to improve the lives of Jewish communities worldwide.

During the Renaissance, Miriam gained popularity among Italian and Spanish families. One notable Miriam from this era was Miriam Camerini (1545-1605), an Italian poet and scholar who wrote extensively on literary and philosophical topics.

In more recent history, Miriam has continued to be a popular name across various cultures and religions. Notable individuals include Miriam Makeba (1932-2008), a South African singer and civil rights activist; Miriam Defensor Santiago (1945-2016), a Filipino lawyer and politician; and Miriam Margolyes (born 1941), a British actress known for her roles in films like Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

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 Miriam was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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"Miriam first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 8, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/miriam-meaning-and-history/.

"Miriam first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/miriam-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 8 November, 2024

Miriam first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/miriam-meaning-and-history/.

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