HomeBaby Names DirectoryHiram

Hiram

♂ Boy

Pronounced HYE-ruhm /ˈhaɪ.ɹəm/Medium

Meaning: Exalted brotherMedium

In 30 seconds: Hiram is a biblical name meaning 'exalted brother'. It is best known as the name of the king of Tyre who aided in building the Temple in Jerusalem.
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Origin MediumBiblical, English
MeaningExalted brother
U.S. rank (2024)#1763 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births93 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1920
Total births (all-time)≈ 14,352

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 192018802024

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

History & Origin

Drawn from the Hebrew scriptures, Hiram carries the sense of a brother who is exalted or held high. Its biblical roots gave it lasting appeal, especially among families who favored Old Testament names. Variants like Hyrum, Hyram and Chiram show how its spelling has shifted across communities.

The form Hyrum became especially associated with certain American religious traditions. Sculptor Hiram Powers carried the name into nineteenth-century art.

Did you know? Hiram appears in the Old Testament, which helped preserve it across centuries of Jewish and Christian naming traditions.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Hiram — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

HyramHyrumChiramHirom

Nicknames

Famous Bearers

  • Hiram Keller (1944–1997)
    Male public figure listed on Behind the Name.
  • Hiram Powers (1805–1873)
    Male public figure listed on Behind the Name.

If you like Hiram…

Hyrum— a variant spelling of Hiram used in some American communities

Frequently Asked

What does the name Hiram mean?

Hiram is usually explained as meaning 'exalted brother' and is most often linked with Biblical tradition.

How do you pronounce Hiram?

It's commonly said HYE-ruhm /ˈhaɪ.ɹəm/.

Is Hiram a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Hiram is used as a boy name.

How popular is Hiram?

In 2024, Hiram ranked #1763 in the U.S. for boys, with 93 births recorded.