Miriam
How to say it: MIR-ee-uhm · /ˈmɪriəm/
Ancient Hebrew name of uncertain meaning; possibly 'beloved' or 'wished-for child'. Sister of Moses in the Bible.
Miriam was the 267th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 1,262 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1910s, its births are up about 11% in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #252 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #267 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 1,262 |
| Share of births | 1 in 2,546 |
| Peak decade | 1910s |
| Change over 10 years | +11% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #252 |
| In France, 2025 | #231 among girls’ names, 45 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
In steady use since its high in the 1910s, Miriam never left. It remains well below that peak but should rise.
What goes with it
Quietly steady with soft sounds and a biblical heritage. Ruth and Naomi share the style.
Middle names that flow with Miriam →
Parents who love Miriam also love
Nicknames
- Miri
- Mim
- Ria
Honouring a Miriam in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Miriam is about 1 in 107.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish.
In France: #231 for girls in 2025.
England and Wales: #237. Ireland: #286.
Famous people named Miriam
- Miriam Makeba (1932–2008)South African singer and civil rights activist
- Miriam Margolyes (born 1941)British-Australian actress
- Miriam Hopkins (1902–1972)American actress
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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