מִרְיָם
Miriam means “bitterness, or beloved sea”
Miriam is a girl's name of Biblical origin.
Moses' sister, who led the women in song at the Red Sea.
46,012 Jewish Israelis born since 1949 carry the name Miriam.
- 46,001 of them are women and girls, and 11 are men and boys.
- 1,062 of them were born in 1950, more than in any other year.
- Carriers born 2020 to 2024: 3,665, against 3,157 born 2010 to 2014, so its share of births is about the same.
Central Bureau of Statistics register, April 2025. People who changed their name are counted under the one they carry now, and a year with fewer than five shows as zero.
This is how Miriam is counted in each population group.
These are the people born 1949 to 2024 who carry the spelling מרים today, in each population group and sex the register lists for it. The rank counts the names given in 2024, and 1 is the most given. A count under 5 is not published, so the table says “fewer than 5”, and 0 means nobody.
| Population group | Carriers | Born in 2024 | Rank in 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jewish girls | 46,001 | 722 | 16 of 678 |
| Jewish boys | 11 | 0 | – |
| Muslim girls | 16,662 | 566 | 1 of 505 |
| Muslim boys | 5 | fewer than 5 | – |
| Christian Arab girls | 767 | 8 | 14 of 37 |
In 2024, Miriam ranked 16 of 678 among the names given to Jewish girls.
Source: the Central Bureau of Statistics table of current first names of people born 1949 to 2024, by sex and population group (release 391/2025 of 8 December 2025, read on 2 November 2026). Groups and sexes with no row for this spelling are left out.
These six names are close to Miriam in theme or origin.
These are the questions people ask about the name Miriam.
What does the name Miriam mean?
Miriam means “bitterness, or beloved sea”. Miriam is a girl's name of Biblical origin. Moses' sister, who led the women in song at the Red Sea.
Is Miriam a boy's name or a girl's name?
Miriam is mainly a girl's name. Of the 46,012 Jewish Israelis born since 1949 who carry it, 46,001 are women and girls and 11 are men and boys.
How do you write Miriam in Hebrew?
Miriam is written מרים in Hebrew. With vowel points it is written מִרְיָם.
How many people in Israel are named Miriam?
46,012 Jewish Israelis born 1949 to 2024 carry Miriam today. The most were born in 1950. In 2024, Miriam ranked 16 of 678 among the names given to Jewish girls.
Counts are Jewish Israelis born 1949 to 2024 who carry the name today, from the Central Bureau of Statistics register of April 2025. Meanings follow the standard etymologies of Hebrew name references, and where nobody can be sure the page says so.