UK girl's name
Miryam
A feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "wished-for child" or "bitter".
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.
Miryam is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Miryam popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2411, with 11 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 11 births.
This profile covers 103 England and Wales registrations across 19 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.
Miryam is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 102 living people in the UK are called Miryam. 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
- • Miryam ranked #2411 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 11 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2024, when 11 girls were registered as Miryam.
- • About 102 living people in the UK are estimated to have Miryam as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2411
2024
Births in 2024
11
Latest year
Peak year
2024
11 births
Estimated living
102
2026
Meaning
What does Miryam mean?
The given name Miryam has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, tracing back to ancient times. It is a variant spelling of the name Miriam, which is derived from the ancient Hebrew words "mar" meaning "bitter" or "beloved," and "yam" meaning "sea."
One of the earliest and most significant references to the name Miryam can be found in the Hebrew Bible, where it was borne by Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron. Miriam played a crucial role in the Exodus story, leading the Israelite women in song and dance after their deliverance from Egypt.
The name Miryam has been used throughout history, with several notable figures bearing this moniker. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this name was Miryam of Palmyra, a Jewish woman from the ancient city of Palmyra in modern-day Syria, who lived in the 3rd century AD.
During the Middle Ages, the name Miryam gained popularity among Jewish communities across Europe. A notable figure from this period was Miryam bat Judah, a 12th-century Jewish poet and scholar from Spain.
In the realm of religion, Miryam has been the name of several influential figures. Miryam of Nazareth, also known as Mary, was the mother of Jesus Christ in Christian tradition and is revered as the Virgin Mary. Additionally, in Islamic tradition, Miryam (Maryam) is the name given to the mother of Jesus and is highly respected as a righteous woman.
Another notable individual with this name was Miryam Mendilow (1887-1962), a Jewish educator and author who played a significant role in the development of Hebrew children's literature in pre-state Israel.
In the modern era, Miryam has been the name of several prominent women, including Miryam Cabrera (born 1951), a Cuban-American author and television personality, and Miryam Glez (born 1988), a Mexican actress and model.
Overall, the name Miryam carries a rich historical and cultural significance, with its roots in ancient Hebrew tradition and its presence throughout various religious and literary contexts over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Miryam over time
The chart below shows babies named Miryam 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 Miryam, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 11 births in 2024, compared with 11 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Miryam by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Miryam 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 | #2805 | 44 | 5 |
| 2010s | #4362 | 24 | 5 |
| 2000s | #3893 | 21 | 5 |
| 1990s | #3503 | 14 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Miryam
- 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
Miryam: questions and answers
How popular is the name Miryam in the UK right now?
In 2024, Miryam was ranked #2411 for girls in England and Wales, with 11 births registered.
When was Miryam most popular?
The peak year on record was 2024, with 11 babies registered as Miryam in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Miryam?
A feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "wished-for child" or "bitter".
How many people are called Miryam in the UK?
A total of 103 babies have been registered as Miryam across the 19 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.