Maryam

Updated: September 27, 2023 by Shannon Phillips

Maryam is an intriguing baby name for girls. Ancient in origin, it remains popular throughout the Near East. Maryam is the name of a septa in the Game of Thrones series, and Maryam was also the name of a kingdom in the Heroic Legend of Arslan series. Keep reading to learn more about this name.

Meaning of the Name Maryam

Maryam is the Arabic variation of Miryam and has a variety of meanings like, drop of sea, beloved, and wished-for child. The name Mīrayām originated as the Aramaic form of Miriam. Etymologists believe that Miriam is one of the most ancient versions of the name Mary. Many linguists believe that the name derives from the Ancient Egyptian element myr (meaning “beloved” or “wished-for child”). In addition, the name may also derive from the Hebrew elements mar (meaning “drop”) and yam (meaning “sea”) or directly from the Old Hebrew word marah (meaning “bitter”).

In the Near East, biblical translations of both the Old Testament and the New Testament retained the Mīrayām spelling to reflect the Semitic pronunciation and writing system. European translations of the New Testament used the name “Mary” based on the phrase stella maris (meaning “star of the sea”). Nevertheless, the European translators continued to use the name “Miriam” in Old Testament translations to distinguish Miriam (the sister of Moses) from Mary (the mother of Jesus). In Persian, the name Maryam (گل سرخ) means “tuberose.” It is interchangeable with the rosa mystica and originated as a tribute to the Virgin Mary.

A little girl painted with multicolored paints will playfully have to create on a pink isolated background. Development of children's creativity for schoolchildren. — ©Yuliya D'yakova/Shutterstock.com

Maryam is an alternative spelling of Miryam (meaning “drop of sea,” “bitter,” “wished-for child,” or “tuberose”). The Maryam variation frequently appears in Arabic, Aramaic, Persian, Urdu, Bashkir, and Tatar language translations. In the Hebrew Bible, Maryam was a sibling of Moses and one of the seven prophetesses of Israel. She famously led the Hebrews into a song of celebration after they safely crossed the Sea of Reeds. Following this event, symbols of Maryam in the Old Testament included the hamsa palm as well as the tambourine.

Nicknames for Maryam

The name Maryam evokes feelings of magnificence and majesty. With such a beautiful name, there are a handful of nicknames you can use for anyone named Maryam. We've compiled a fun list of nicknames for you to consider: