Mariah is a female given name of Hebrew origin. It is derived from the Hebrew word "Miriam," which means "sea of bitterness" or "rebelliousness." In the Bible, Miriam was the sister of Moses and Aaron, and she played an important role in the Israelites' escape from Egypt.
The name Mariah has been used for centuries and has gained popularity in recent years. It is often associated with famous individuals such as Mariah Carey, a popular singer-songwriter, actress, and record producer. Despite its Hebrew origin, Mariah has also become common in other cultures, including English-speaking countries.
In some cases, Mariah may be considered a variant of the name Miriam or may be used interchangeably with it. However, there is no clear consensus on whether Mariah is simply a spelling variation of Miriam or if it has its own distinct history and meaning.
Regardless of its origins and meanings, Mariah remains a popular choice for parents seeking a unique yet meaningful name for their daughters. It is often associated with beauty, strength, and wisdom, qualities that have been attributed to Miriam in biblical texts and throughout Jewish tradition.
These statistics show a significant increase in the popularity of the name Mariah over time, from just 5 births in 1880 to a peak of 5446 in 1996. However, there was also considerable fluctuation throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with numbers ranging from as low as 5 (in 1958) to as high as 33 (in 1917). From the mid-20th century onwards, the name's popularity became more stable, although there was still a notable decline in recent years, with only 777 births recorded in 2023. Overall, Mariah has been a widely used name, with over 113,595 babies given this name between 1880 and 2023.