How Many People Are Named Miriam?

Complete statistics for the name Miriam: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.

Miriam
Rare
Hebrew

Miriam is a classic Hebrew name meaning 'beloved' or 'wished-for child', with around 73,306 living Americans carrying it today. It's genuinely rare, showing up in just 1 in 4,502 Americans. The striking thing is how heavily it skews older, with more than half of all living Miriams being over 60.

~73,306
Living in US
1 in 4,502
Americans
1924
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
Beloved, wished-for child
🌐
Origin
Hebrew
🌟
Lucky Day
Friday
💎
Lucky Stone
Ruby
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 9
Personality Traits
Compassionate Strong Wise Devoted
9
Life Path Number

Life path number 9 is traditionally associated with compassion, wisdom, and a deep sense of purpose. People linked to 9 are seen as old souls who feel called to serve others and leave the world better than they found it.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

472,135
Worldwide Bearers
#486
Global Rank
🇻🇪 Venezuela
45,641
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
37,255
🇩🇪 Germany
31,026
🇨🇱 Chile
29,219
🇵🇭 Philippines
27,650
🇪🇨 Ecuador
26,503
🇹🇿 Tanzania
24,762
🇧🇴 Bolivia
23,472
🇺🇬 Uganda
23,384
🇳🇬 Nigeria
18,179

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
207 (0%)
♀ Female
73,100 (100%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 62
31,335
Would be under 30 (27%)
24,009
Would be 30–60 (21%)
61,528
Would be over 60 (53%)

All 116,872 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).

📈 Popularity Over Time

Peak: 1924

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Slowly rising

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
99
Classic Feel
97
Modern Appeal
13
International
5

Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency

📜 Miriam Through the Generations

Miriam has a long history in the US, with 116,872 total births on record, but only 73,306 are estimated living today. That gap makes sense given the name's peak was way back in 1924, when 1,834 babies were named Miriam in a single year. A century later, that golden generation is now elderly, which is exactly why 61,528 living Miriams, a full 53%, are over 60. The average age of 62 tells the same story. It's not a name you hear much in schools right now, with only 31,335 Miriams under 30. What makes the data interesting is the trend: despite its old-school roots, Miriam is slowly rising again. Parents seem to be rediscovering it as a serious, timeless choice rather than letting it fade out entirely.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

New York 24,608
Pennsylvania 10,079
California 9,819
Texas 6,315
New Jersey 6,131
Ohio 5,505
Illinois 4,347
Georgia 3,136
Massachusetts 2,970
South Carolina 2,699

⭐ Famous People Named Miriam

Miriam is a feminine given name recorded in Biblical Hebrew in the Book of Exodus as the name of the sister of Moses, the prophetess Miriam.…

Full list on Wikipedia →

✨ Similar Names to Miriam

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Miriam's Hebrew roots

📄 About the Name Miriam

How Many People Have the Name Miriam?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 73,306 people in the United States currently share the name Miriam. That works out to roughly 1 in every 4,502 Americans, placing it in the Rare category.

Is Miriam a Common or Rare Name?

Miriam is classified as Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.

What Does the Name Miriam Mean?

Miriam means "Beloved, wished-for child" and comes from Hebrew origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 9.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Miriam in SSA data, approximately 0% are male and 100% are female.

When Was Miriam Most Popular?

The name Miriam reached peak popularity in 1924, with 1,834 babies registered that year. Current trend: Slowly rising.

How Is This Data Calculated?

All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are named Miriam?

Approximately 73,306 people named Miriam live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 116,872. That works out to roughly 1 in 4,502 Americans.

Is Miriam a rare name?

Miriam is classified as Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 4,502 Americans has this name.

What does the name Miriam mean?

Miriam means "Beloved, wished-for child" and comes from Hebrew origins.

Is Miriam more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 0% of people named Miriam are male and 100% are female.

When was Miriam most popular?

Miriam peaked in 1924 with 1,834 births that year. Current trend: Slowly rising.

How accurate are these statistics?

All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.

Disclaimer: All results are statistical estimates based on aggregated SSA birth records and modeling. Not exact counts of individuals. Data source: SSA National Baby Names dataset.
Quick Stats
Living in US73,306
All-Time Births116,872
1 in X1 in 4,502
RarityRare
GenderFemale
Avg Age62
Peak Year1924
World Rank#486
Male %0%
Female %100%

Check the statistics for any first or last name

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Data Source

Powered by the SSA National Baby Names dataset, birth registrations from 1880 to present.

All counts are statistical estimates. See the methodology page.