Miriam
From Hebrew מִרְיָם (Miryam), possibly from Aramaic מרים (Maryām, “bitter”), from a root מר (m-r) meaning "to be bitter".
Every Miriam since 1880 — 118,190 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Miriam
Miriam is moderately common for girls in the United States, ranked #246 in 2025 with 1,262 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 118,190 American babies have been named Miriam. Its peak came in 1924, when 1,834 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1920s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Miriam stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Miriam year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,262 | #246 | — | — |
| 2024 | 1,279 | #249 | — | — |
| 2023 | 1,246 | #249 | — | — |
| 2022 | 1,203 | #261 | — | — |
| 2021 | 1,193 | #259 | — | — |
| 2020 | 1,151 | #268 | — | — |
| 2019 | 1,165 | #285 | — | — |
| 2018 | 1,109 | #300 | — | — |
| 2017 | 1,152 | #284 | 6 | #11,726 |
| 2016 | 1,122 | #290 | — | — |
| 2015 | 1,106 | #293 | — | — |
| 2014 | 1,075 | #304 | — | — |
| 2013 | 1,114 | #286 | — | — |
| 2012 | 1,051 | #305 | — | — |
| 2011 | 947 | #332 | — | — |
| 2010 | 1,086 | #300 | — | — |
| 2009 | 1,079 | #306 | — | — |
| 2008 | 1,102 | #301 | — | — |
| 2007 | 1,146 | #294 | — | — |
| 2006 | 1,160 | #286 | — | — |
| 2005 | 1,191 | #280 | — | — |
| 2004 | 1,201 | #271 | — | — |
| 2003 | 1,118 | #279 | — | — |
| 2002 | 1,121 | #279 | 5 | #11,871 |
| 2001 | 1,076 | #292 | — | — |
| 2000 | 1,162 | #278 | — | — |
| 1995 | 979 | #285 | 8 | #6,783 |
| 1990 | 983 | #284 | — | — |
| 1985 | 747 | #321 | 8 | #5,011 |
| 1980 | 781 | #310 | — | — |
| 1975 | 671 | #330 | 9 | #3,834 |
| 1970 | 655 | #370 | — | — |
| 1965 | 753 | #327 | — | — |
| 1960 | 1,051 | #281 | — | — |
| 1955 | 1,026 | #264 | — | — |
| 1950 | 841 | #264 | — | — |
| 1945 | 672 | #260 | — | — |
| 1940 | 735 | #231 | — | — |
| 1935 | 792 | #216 | — | — |
| 1930 | 1,052 | #183 | 5 | #4,370 |
| 1925 | 1,599 | #154 | — | — |
| 1920 | 1,744 | #140 | — | — |
| 1915 | 1,377 | #138 | — | — |
| 1910 | 368 | #186 | — | — |
| 1905 | 234 | #200 | — | — |
| 1900 | 214 | #214 | — | — |
| 1895 | 169 | #206 | — | — |
| 1890 | 83 | #275 | — | — |
| 1885 | 42 | #316 | — | — |
| 1880 | 28 | #303 | — | — |
Famous people named Miriam
- Miriam Religious figure · -1400–-1274
- Miriam Makeba Singer · 1932–2008
- Miriam Hopkins Actor · 1902–1972
- Miriam Margolyes Actor · b. 1941
- Miriam Stevenson Celebrity · b. 1933
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Miriam mean?
From Hebrew מִרְיָם (Miryam), possibly from Aramaic מרים (Maryām, “bitter”), from a root מר (m-r) meaning "to be bitter".
How popular is the name Miriam in 2025?
Miriam ranked #246 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 1,262 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Miriam?
118,190 babies have been named Miriam in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Miriam most popular?
Miriam peaked in 1924, when 1,834 newborns received the name.
Is Miriam a boy or girl name?
Miriam is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Miriam rising or falling?
Miriam is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Miriam?
Well-known people named Miriam include Miriam (religious figure), Miriam Makeba (singer), Miriam Hopkins (actor).