Origin, Meaning, And History Of Miriam
The name Miriam is derived from the Hebrew form of Mary, the elder sister of Moses in the Old Testament. According to the Hebrew Bible, Miriam is a crucial figure and a prophetess. Described as the daughter of Jochebed and Amram, she is one of the seven female prophets in Judaism. According to the scriptures, she led the women out of Egypt and enlightened them with the teachings of the Torah.
The mother of Lord Jesus and the wife of Joseph bears the English variant of this name called Mary in the New Testament. She is a crucial figure in Christianity, often described as the virgin mother chosen by the almighty God to bear Jesus Christ. According to popular belief, she ascended to heaven after her death. As a result, the title is a popular name for girls among the Jews and Christians.
The name has various meanings associated with it. It means ‘beloved’ in Egyptian, while it means ‘rebellious,’ ‘bitter sea,’ ‘star of the sea,’ and ‘beautiful’ in Hebrew.
The spelling variants of the term include Mariam (Arabic), Maria, Mia (Spanish), Mariama (Western Africa), Moria (Scottish), Maryam (Persian), Marietta, Maria (Greek), Mari (Georgian), Marie (French) and Mary (English).
In fiction, Miriam is one of the characters in D.H. Lawrence’s novel ‘Sons and Lovers.’ She is the lover of Paul Morel, the protagonist of the book. Another main character from Nathaniel Hawthorne’s ‘The Marble Faun’ also bears the name Miriam. She is a beautiful painter with an oblivious past with comparisons to other beautiful women like Eve, Judith, Beatrice, and Cleopatra.Miriam ‘Midge’ Maiselis a Jewish-American housewife in the TV series ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.’ Miriam is also the name of the fictional protagonist of the video game series ‘Bloodstained.’ Finally,Miriam Mendelsohnis one of the characters in the computer-animated movie ‘Turning Red.’
How To Pronounce Miriam?
Famous People With The Name Miriam
- Miriam ShorAmerican actress best known for her movie Hedwig And The Angry Inch
- Miriam MargolyesEnglish-Australian actress known for her prominent roles in movies like The Age of Innocence and the Harry Potter series
- Miriam FlynnAmerican voice artist and character actress
- Miriam LeslieAmerican author, publisher, and suffrage advocate and philanthropist
- Miriam ToewsCanadian writer and winner of 2007 Cannes Jury Prize
- Miriam MosesBritish politician and the first female Jewish mayor in the United Kingdom
Miriam On The Popularity Chart
The name Miriam has been fluctuating in popularity for the past few decades. The graph below shows the name’s popularity over time.
Popularity Over Time
After its lowest on the chart in 1988, the name Miriam has grown steadily to reach 1181 babies per million in 2021.
Source:Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
The name has stayed constantly within the top 400 names for decades. As of 2021, it is in the 261st position on the chart.
Source:Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Miriam
Miriam comes in a variety of forms, and they are all well-liked. Check out the list below if you’re looking for a name with a similar sound.
Popular Sibling Names For Miriam
If you are looking for some matching sibling names that resonate with Miriam, check our suggestions here.
Other Popular Names Beginning With M
Names With Similar Meaning As Miriam
If you consider using a name other than Miriam but want the same meaning, you can look at the suggestions listed below.
Infographic: Know The Name’s Personality As Per Numerology
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How To Communicate The Name In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
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In Sign Language
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In Braille Alphabet
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In Morse Code
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Name Numerology For Miriam
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Miriam?
米里亚姆”这一名称的意思是“亲爱的,”和“苦。”
2. What is the origin of the name Miriam?
Miriam has Hebrew origins.
3. How to pronounce the name Miriam?
Miriam is pronounced as mih-ree-um.
4. What are some famous fictional characters named Miriam?
The name Miriam appears in various works of fiction. It’s the name of the school nurse in the famous video game Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Miriam Jacobs is the name of a character in Philip Pullman’s fantasy novel, The Secret Commonwealth. Miriam or Queen Marion is the character in the Italian animated series Winx Club.
5. What is the cultural significance of the name Miriam?
Miriam has deep connections with the Bible and holds immense significance for Jews. As the elder sister of Moses and Sharon in the Bible, she cared for baby Moses when he was drawn up from the Nile. In the Bible, Miriam is also depicted as a prophetess and a leader of the Israelites. She helped people in Israel rise out of slavery in Egypt.
6. Is Mimi short for Miriam?
Yes. Mimi is a pet form of bigger names like Miriam. It is also a short name for Emilia and Naomi. Miri, Midge, and Miz are other short variations of the name.
7. What color was Miriam in the Bible?
Miriam’s skin is said to be white in the Bible (1). This is because she was struck with Leprosy and had to keep herself separate from others. She was healed of this disease in seven days.
References:
- Miriam; The Woman Who Helped Save a Nation
https://www.nationalshrine.org/blog/miriam-the-woman-who-helped-save-a-nation/#:~:text=And%20so%20the%20Lord’s%20wrath,be%20healed%20in%20seven%20days.
