Mariam
مَرْيَمMariam is a girl name of Arabic/Hebrew origin.
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Meaning of Mariam
"Beloved; exalted." Arabic form of Mary. The only woman named in the entire Qur'an and the only one with a surah named after her (Surah Maryam, #19) — the mother of Isa (Jesus), honored as the greatest woman in Islam.
Arabic root: From Hebrew Miryam — possibly "beloved" or "bitter"
Regional variants
Cross-Abrahamic bridge name par excellence — venerated in Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. "Maryam" is the Qur'anic spelling; "Mariam" is the French-influenced North African form common in the US.
Popularity of Mariam
17,338 U.S. births recorded from 1882–2023.
Named in the Qur’an
Maryam
Maryam (Mary), mother of Isa, is the only woman named directly in the Qur’an. Sura 19 bears her name. She is described as chosen above the women of all creation, a model of purity and devotion.
From the Qur’an
"And [mention] when the angels said, ‘O Maryam, indeed Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the worlds.’"
"And [the example of] Maryam, the daughter of ʿImran, who guarded her chastity… and she believed in the words of her Lord and His scriptures, and was of the devoutly obedient."
Variants & nicknames
Mary / Maryam / Miriam
The mother of Jesus (Isa). Maryam is the only woman named in the Qur’an, and Surah Maryam (19) bears her name. Miriam, sister of Moses, shares the Hebrew root.
Related guide
30 Quranic Baby Names for Boys and Girls (With Verses)
30 names drawn from the Qur’an — prophets, named and referenced women, and meaningful Arabic concepts — each with its verse reference and classical meaning.
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Famous people named Mariam
- Maryam (Qur'anic figure, mother of Jesus)
- Maryam Mirzakhani (Fields Medal mathematician)
Similar names
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About this page
Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meaning and cultural context drawn from classical sources: Lisan al-Arab, Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Qur'an and Sunnah. If you spot an error, please let us know.