Namesake.

Maryam

مَرْيَم
Girl Arabic (Hebrew origin) /MAR-yam/ #415 in 2023

Maryam is a girl name of Arabic (Hebrew origin) origin.

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Meaning of Maryam

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.

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.

Popularity of Maryam

Popularity, 1946–2023
740 births in 2023
1946 2023

12,168 U.S. births recorded from 1946–2023.

Peak year
2023
740 babies
First recorded
1946
77 years of history
Recent trend
Rising
Last 5 yrs vs. prior 5

Named in the Qur’an

مَرْيَم

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.’"

— 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 & nicknames

MariamMeryemMyriam

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.

Read the full guide →
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Famous people named Maryam

  • Maryam (Mary, 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.