Meryem

A girl's name of Arabic origin with 596 recorded U.S. births.

Girl's name#4611 in 2024Rising fast

Meaning & Origin

a female given name from Arabic, equivalent to English Mary or Miriam

Meryem is a girl's baby name of Arabic origin, the Arabic and Turkish form of Mary or Miriam, from the Arabic Maryam, meaning 'beloved' or 'wished-for child.' In Islam, Maryam (Mary) is one of the most revered women, and she is the only woman mentioned by name in the Quran.

Meryem is widely used in Turkey and across Muslim communities in the Arab world and beyond. It carries immense spiritual significance — Surah Maryam (Chapter 19 of the Quran) is named after her. The spelling Meryem is specifically the Turkish form, giving it a particular character within Turkish naming tradition.

EtymologyShow more

Names travel. They cross oceans, change spelling, shift pronunciation, and accumulate new associations with each culture that adopts them. Meryem is rooted in the Arabic tradition, but its presence in American naming since 1992 means it has been shaped by English phonetics, local customs, and the cultural context of the families who chose it.

Meryem’s 596 recorded births suggest it has found a niche — possibly within a specific cultural community, region, or naming subculture within the broader American landscape.

At a Glance

596

Total births

Since 1992

2014

Peak

39 births

1992

First recorded

33 years of data

Compare Meryem with another name

Popularity Over Time

Meryem climbed 5833 spots in the last 20 years — from #10444 to #4611.

First appeared: 1992Peak: 2014 (39 births)Current: #4611

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Meryem
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	147	#4703	▼
2010s	283	#5191	▲
2000s	125	#9788	▲
1990s	41	#12529	—

The Story of Meryem

A Gen Alpha name

Peaking in 2014, Meryem is a fresh, modern favorite. Girls named Meryem are most likely born between 2004 and 2024.

How rare is Meryem?

Only about 1 in every 120,000 babies born in 2024 was named Meryem — a truly uncommon choice.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1992, peaked in the 2010s with 283 births that decade, and remains solidly popular today.

Meryem by the numbers

Would fill 12 school buses
Meeting one Meryem per day would take 1.6 years

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(31 years, 1992–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Meryem
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	30	#4611	-3 (-9.1%)
2023	33	#4327	0
2022	33	#4345	+5 (17.9%)
2021	28	#4797	+5 (21.7%)
2020	23	#5435	-15 (-39.5%)
2019	38	#3888	+4 (11.8%)
2018	34	#4212	+1 (3.0%)
2017	33	#4348	+4 (13.8%)
2016	29	#4803	+2 (7.4%)
2015	27	#5076	-12 (-30.8%)
2014	39	#3894	+15 (62.5%)
2013	24	#5604	+1 (4.3%)
2012	23	#5838	+7 (43.8%)
2011	16	#7680	-4 (-20.0%)
2010	20	#6562	+4 (25.0%)
2009	16	#7951	-7 (-30.4%)
2008	23	#6075	+7 (43.8%)
2007	16	#7971	+5 (45.5%)
2006	11	#10389	-5 (-31.3%)
2005	16	#7383	+6 (60.0%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Meryem a boy's or girl's name?

Meryem is primarily a girl's name.

When was Meryem most popular?

Meryem reached its peak popularity in 2014 with 39 births that year. It is currently ranked #4611 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Meryem?

Meryem is currently ranked #4611 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 596 babies since 1992.

Explore More

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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1992–2024