Miriam
/ˈmɪr.i.əm/noun
A feminine given name from the Hebrew Bible, borne by the sister of Moses and Aaron.
Did you know?Miriam is a biblical name whose deepest etymology is uncertain, with scholars proposing meanings ranging from Egyptian influence to Hebrew interpretations like “rebellion,” but no single origin is universally accepted.
Etymological Timeline
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
Miryam
“A Hebrew female name borne by the sister of Moses and Aaron.”
Septuagint / Hellenistic Greek
Greek
Mariam
“Greek form of the biblical name used in Jewish and Christian texts.”
Late Latin
Latin
Mariam / Maria
“Latin biblical and Christian forms of the name.”
Old French
Old French
Marie
“French form that spread widely through medieval Europe.”
Middle English
English
Mary / Miriam
“English biblical and later given-name forms.”