UK girl's name
Meryem
A feminine Arabic name meaning "the exalted one" or "the greatest".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Meryem is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Meryem popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1406, with 23 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 31 births.
This profile covers 469 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 74% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 467 living people in the UK are called Meryem. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Meryem ranked #1406 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 23 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2016, when 31 girls were registered as Meryem.
- • About 467 living people in the UK are estimated to have Meryem as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1406
2024
Births in 2024
23
Latest year
Peak year
2016
31 births
Estimated living
467
2026
Meaning
What does Meryem mean?
Meryem is a given name with roots in the Arabic and Turkish languages. It is the Turkish and Arabic form of the name Mary, which is derived from the ancient Hebrew name Miryam or Mariam. The name Miryam is believed to be derived from the Hebrew elements "mar" meaning "bitter" or "beloved," and "yam" meaning "sea."
The name Meryem has a significant religious and historical significance, particularly in the Islamic and Christian traditions. In the Quran, the holy book of Islam, Meryem (Mary) is revered as the mother of Prophet Isa (Jesus). The 19th chapter of the Quran is named "Surah Maryam," which narrates the story of Meryem and the miraculous birth of Prophet Isa.
In the Christian tradition, Mary is the mother of Jesus Christ and holds a significant place in the New Testament. The name Meryem is widely used among Christian communities in the Middle East and other regions with significant Christian populations.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Meryem can be traced back to the 6th century. Meryem Ana, also known as Mary the Younger or Maria the Younger, was a Christian saint and ascetic who lived in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) in the 6th century.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Meryem:
1. Meryem Murad (c. 1876 - 1964), a Turkish novelist and women's rights activist who played a significant role in the early feminist movement in the Ottoman Empire. 2. Meryem Abdulah (1903 - 1984), an Iraqi-Jewish writer and poet who wrote in Arabic and was known for her contributions to modern Arabic literature. 3. Meryem Uzerli (born 1983), a German-Turkish actress and model who has appeared in several popular Turkish television series. 4. Meryem Çavuşoğlu (born 1992), a Turkish Paralympic athlete who has won multiple medals in swimming competitions. 5. Meryem Joobeur (born 1997), a Tunisian professional tennis player who has represented her country in international tournaments.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have carried the name Meryem, reflecting its cultural and religious significance across various regions and communities.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Meryem over time
The chart below shows babies named Meryem registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Meryem, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 23 births in 2024, compared with 31 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Meryem by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Meryem was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #1717 | 87 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1394 | 234 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1822 | 118 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2120 | 30 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Meryem
- Megan 70,884
- Mia 67,204
- Molly 47,734
- Millie 44,390
- Maisie 32,671
- Matilda 29,965
- Maya 26,445
- Madison 18,441
- Maria 17,304
- Mollie 15,914
- Martha 15,116
- Maddison 14,918
FAQ
Meryem: questions and answers
How popular is the name Meryem in the UK right now?
In 2024, Meryem was ranked #1406 for girls in England and Wales, with 23 births registered.
When was Meryem most popular?
The peak year on record was 2016, with 31 babies registered as Meryem in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Meryem?
A feminine Arabic name meaning "the exalted one" or "the greatest".
How many people are called Meryem in the UK?
A total of 469 babies have been registered as Meryem across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.