Myriam

Myriam is the French variant of the biblical name Miriam, which is associated with both a prophetess of the Old Testament and with Mary, the mother of Jesus. However, the exact origin and meaning of this name are not definitively established.

What does the name Myriam mean?

Myriam is regarded as the French form of the biblical name Miriam. This likely derives from the Egyptian term mry, meaning 'beloved', and could thus carry the meaning 'the beloved'. Alternatively, there are also connections to Hebrew words such as mir, meaning 'bitter', and jam, meaning 'sea', leading to interpretations like 'the sea myrrh' or 'the sea drop'. Other interpretations include 'the rebellious' or 'the untamed', derived from Hebrew mry for 'rebellious', as well as 'the (gift) given by God', based on Hebrew rym for 'to give'. The spelling Myriam is not only popular in French-speaking regions but is also frequently used in German-speaking areas as an alternative form of Miriam.

Where does the name Myriam come from?

Myriam is a female first name whose origins can be found in both Aramaic and Egyptian. It encompasses meanings such as 'the (gift) given by God' or 'the sea myrrh'. The etymological roots lie in Egyptian with the word mry for 'beloved' or in ancient Hebrew with the terms mir for 'bitter' and jam for 'sea' as well as mry for 'rebellious' or rym for 'to give'. The languages in which the name appears include German, French, Canadian, Luxembourgish, and Swiss.

How do you pronounce Myriam?

The pronunciation of Myriam is three syllables and harmonious. The name is typically pronounced as 'My-ri-am' [ˈmyːʁi̯am] or [ˈmiːʁi̯am]. It begins with a clear, strong vowel, and the middle syllable with the soft 'r' gives the name a certain dynamism. The concluding '-am' provides a warm finish. Myriam conveys both tradition and dignity and has a gently melodic sound.

When is the name day of Myriam?

The name day for Myriam is celebrated on April 2, August 15, August 26, and September 12.

Popularity

Myriam is a widely used first name in Germany. The name currently ranks 1,740th in the list of the most common female first names. Myriam reached its highest ranking in 1974, when it placed 107th. In the last ten years, the name has been given approximately 180 times, placing it 1,738th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 1,799th.

Nicknames & pet names

Mimi / Mimmi / Mimmy / Mire / Miri / Mizzi / Muju / Murri / My / Mya / Mylli / Mym / Myme / Mymi / Myps / Myre / Myri / Myrre / Myrtle / Mysche / Mytschl / Mytütü / Möhre / Mümi / Mümmel / Mümü / Mürry / Schmyri / Schmyriam / Schmyrtle

Similar first names

Famous people

• Myriam Alter (jazz musician from Belgium)
• Myriam Avalos (Peruvian musician)
• Myriam Bedard (Canadian biathlete)
• Myriam Birger (American musician)
• Myriam Boileau (Canadian diver)
• Myriam Bronzwaar (Belgian actress)
• Myriam Bru (actress from France)
• Myriam Casanova (tennis player from Switzerland)
• Myriam Cyr (Canadian actress)
• Myriam de la Riva (Mexican artist)
• Myriam de Urquijo (actress from Argentina)
• Myriam Decroze (French artist)
• Myriam Fares (Lebanese singer)
• Myriam Francois-Cerrah (writer from the United Kingdom)
• Myriam Hernandez (Chilean musician)
• Myriam Keil (author)
• Myriam Klink (Lebanese model)
• Myriam Korfanty (French handball player)
• Myriam Lamare (French boxer)
• Myriam Makeba (South African singer and activist against apartheid and for human rights.)