Behind the name MARIAM

Miriam or Maryam is a name that is vastly used in many different cultures. We can find it in Africa, Middle East, Persia, Europe, but how come this name is so widely spread?

Miriam is an ancient female name that has taken on many other forms in other languages and cultures, including the English name Mary. 

Origin and variants

The name may have originated from the Egyptian mry "beloved" or mr "love" or the derived ancient Egyptian name Meritamen or Meri-Amun, "beloved of the God Amun". Other suggestions include the word root m-r-r "bitter" (cf. myrrh), or the Hebrew root (מרי m-r-y) "rebellious", or even possibly "wished-for child", or "strong waters". Its earliest appearance in writing may be in the Exodus narrative of the Old Testament, in which the elder sister of Moses and Aaron is called Miriam.

Miriam is a common name and figure that is both sacred in Christianity and Islam. According to the Bible, Mary, also known as Saint Mary or Virgin Mary, was a Jewish woman of Nazareth in Galilee. She is identified in the New Testament as the mother of Jesus through divine intervention. In Islam, Mary (Maryam) also has a revered position, the mother of Jesus, where she holds a singularly distinguished and honored position among women in the Qur'an  and a whole chapter of the Qur'an is devoted to her. 

As a result "Mariam", "Miriam" ,"Mary" gained popoloratiy with the passing of centuries making it one of the most popular and common names in the world. A name with a unique spiritual significance that binds together three Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) under the same linguistic root, tradition and popularity.

Writing Mariam in Arabic 




"Miriam" used in religious and traditional songs