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Maryam

♀ Girl

Pronounced MAHR-ee-um /ˈmɑːr.i.əm/High

Meaning: Arabic form of Miriam and Mary, from Hebrew Miryam, possibly meaning 'beloved', 'wished-for child', 'sea of bitterness', or 'rebelliousness'. Maryam is the most venerated form in Islamic tradition.High

In 30 seconds: Maryam is the Arabic and Quranic form of Mary, sacred in both Islam and Christianity as the name of Jesus's mother. It is among the most widely used girls' names across the Muslim world.
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Origin HighArabic, Hebrew
MeaningArabic form of Miriam and Mary, from Hebrew Miryam, possibly meaning 'beloved', 'wished-for child', 'sea of bitterness', or 'rebelliousness'. Maryam is the most venerated form in Islamic tradition.
U.S. rank (2025)#351 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births869 girls (0.05% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2025
Total births (all-time)≈ 13,843

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202519462025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Maryam is the Arabic form of the Hebrew Miryam, the original form of the name Mary. The etymology of Miryam is debated — proposed meanings include 'sea of bitterness', 'rebelliousness', 'wished-for child', and 'beloved'. In the Quran, Maryam is the mother of the prophet Isa (Jesus), and Surah Maryam (Chapter 19) recounts the Annunciation and birth of Isa. This Quranic prominence makes Maryam the most sacred feminine name in Islam.

Maryam has been among the most popular girls' names across the Muslim world for fourteen centuries, used from Morocco to Indonesia. It is particularly popular in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Arab countries. In the West, Maryam has grown with Muslim diaspora communities and appeals to parents who want the Arabic/Islamic form rather than the Western Mary. It entered the US top 500 girls' names in the twenty-first century.

Did you know? Mary/Maryam is the only woman mentioned by name in the Quran — she appears in 34 verses across multiple surahs and has an entire chapter, Surah Maryam (Chapter 19), dedicated to her — a singular honor in Islamic scripture.
Overall data confidence 90%
Wehr, Hans. A Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic — Maryam as the Arabic form of MarySurah Maryam, Quran (Chapter 19) — Quranic source and scriptural significance

Variations

MariamMaryemMiriamMary

Nicknames

MaryYamMari

Famous Bearers

  • ★Maryam (biblical/Quranic figure) (c. 1 BCE)
    Mother of Jesus (Isa), the only woman named in the Quran, honored in both Islam and Christianity.

If you like Maryam…

Fatima— Arabic Islamic name of equal reverence, the Prophet's daughter, used across the same Muslim communities
Aisha— Arabic name meaning 'living', deeply connected to early Islamic history and equally beloved
Amina— Arabic name meaning 'trustworthy', connected to the Prophet's mother and equally revered

Frequently Asked

What does the name Maryam mean?

Maryam means 'beloved' or 'wished-for child', as the Arabic form of Hebrew Miryam (Mary). Its exact meaning is debated among scholars.

How do you pronounce Maryam?

Maryam is pronounced MAHR-ee-um (/ˈmɑːr.i.əm/), three syllables with stress on the first.

Is Maryam a boy or girl name?

Maryam is a girl's name, the Arabic feminine form of the most sacred feminine name in both Islam and Christianity.

How popular is Maryam?

Maryam is one of the most popular girls' names across the Muslim world and is growing in Western countries with Muslim communities.