Miriam

Updated: October 20, 2023 by Stephanie Graham

Miriam is one of the most cherished baby names for girls. Highly esteemed since the days of Exodus, this name appears frequently in popular culture today. Miriam was the name of the matriarch in Ben-Hur, and Miriam “Midge” Maisel titular protagonist of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Keep reading to learn more about this name.

Meaning and Origins of the name Miriam:

Miriam is a girl's name with different origins and meanings. In Hebrew, Miriam means “drop of the sea” or “bitter.” The Egyptian meaning of Miriam is “beloved” or “wished-for child.” The Latin meaning is “star of the sea.”

Miriam is the Hebrew form of the name Mary used in the Old Testament. It derived from the given name Mīrayām, and it is one of the most ancient forms of the name Mary. Miriam has several possible etymologies. Miriam may derive from the Hebrew roots mar (meaning “drop”) and yam (meaning “sea”). Some etymologists also believe that Miriam originates from the Hebrew word marah (meaning “bitter”). It may also derive from the Egyptian element myr (meaning “beloved” or “wished-for child”).

The Hebrew name Miriam translated into Arabic as Maryam. Latin translations of the New Testament used the names Mary and Marie based on the phrase stella maris (meaning “star of the sea”). However, the Old Testament translations retained the spelling of Miriam to distinguish this biblical figure from the women in the New Testament.

Symbolism of the name Miriam:

Miriam is the Hebrew version of the name Mary. In the Old Testament, Miriam is the sister of Moses and one of seven major prophetesses of Israel. According to the Book of Exodus, Jochebed entrusted Miriam to watch over the infant Moses before Pharaoh's daughter rescued the baby. Miriam also led the Israelites into a song of praise after they safely crossed the Sea of Reeds. Symbols of Mary include the hamsa palm and the tambourine.

Nicknames for the name Miriam:

Miriam is a name that has been around for a long time and, it has a rich history. This distinguished name has many fun and cute nicknames. Below is a list of nicknames for Miriam that we're sure you'll find delightful.