Where does the name Maryam come from?

Maryam is a girl name of Arabic (Hebrew origin) origin. The most Abrahamic name on this list — identical across Muslim, Christian, and Jewish traditions.

Is Maryam a boy or a girl name?

Maryam is overwhelmingly a girl name in the United States. Of the 12,169 U.S. babies recorded with this name, more than 99% are girls.

How popular is the name Maryam in 2023?

Maryam ranks #415 for girls in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 2023 with 741 babies.

How do you pronounce Maryam?

Maryam is pronounced MAR-yam (2 syllables).

What are common spellings of Maryam?

Maryam is also written as Mariam, Meryem, Myriam.

A name from Arabic (Hebrew origin) · Girl · Named in the Qur’an

Maryam

مَرْيَم

The Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus — the only woman mentioned by name in the Qur'an (34 times). The 19th surah bears her name. A model of piety and chastity. Counted among the four perfect women of humanity.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 77-year arc in numbers.

12,169 U.S. births recorded from 1946–2023.

Popularity · 1946–2023

741 births in 2023

1946 1984 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

MThe Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus — the only woman mentioned by name in the Qur'an (34 times). The 19th surah bears her name. A model of piety and chastity. Counted among the four perfect women of humanity.

Etymology, in one line

Arabic root: Hebrew, etymology debated — "rebellious" or "beloved"

Regional variants

The most Abrahamic name on this list — identical across Muslim, Christian, and Jewish traditions. "Mariam" is the most intuitive US spelling.

Islamic depth

Named in the Qur’an in the Qur'an.

Classical commentary, verse references, and what the name means in tradition.

Maryam مَرْيَم

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.’""

— Qur'an, Al-Imran 3:42

""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.""

— Qur'an, At-Tahrim 66:12

Variants & spellings

3 ways to spell "Maryam".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Mariam Most common Meryem Myriam

Name family

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.

Maryam مَرْيَم

Arabic

Latin / Spanish / Italian

Marie

French

Maryah

Aramaic / Syriac

Related guides

People who carry the name Maryam.

M
Maryam (Mary, mother of Jesus)
M
Maryam Mirzakhani (Fields Medal mathematician)

Quick answers

People often ask about Maryam.

What does the name Maryam mean?: Maryam means the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus — the only woman mentioned by name in the Qur'an (34 times). The 19th surah bears her name. A model of piety and chastity. Counted among the four perfect women of humanity.
Where does the name Maryam come from?: Maryam is a girl name of Arabic (Hebrew origin) origin. The most Abrahamic name on this list — identical across Muslim, Christian, and Jewish traditions.
Is Maryam a boy or a girl name?: Maryam is overwhelmingly a girl name in the United States. Of the 12,169 U.S. babies recorded with this name, more than 99% are girls.
How popular is the name Maryam in 2023?: Maryam ranks #415 for girls in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 2023 with 741 babies.
How do you pronounce Maryam?: Maryam is pronounced MAR-yam (2 syllables).
Is Maryam mentioned in the Qur'an?: Maryam (Mary), mother of Isa, is the only woman named directly in the Qur’an.
What are common spellings of Maryam?: Maryam is also written as Mariam, Meryem, Myriam.

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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.

Maryam

A 77-year arc in numbers.

A name that means something.

Named in the Qur’an in the Qur'an.

3 ways to spell "Maryam".

Mary / Maryam / Miriam

Read more in the Almanac.

30 Quranic Baby Names for Boys and Girls (With Verses)

Baby Names That Mean Miracle: Arabic, Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and Yoruba

People who carry the name Maryam.

People often ask about Maryam.

If you love Maryam, also consider…

About this page