Fun Facts About the Name Miami
- 349 babies named Miami: U.S. records list 349 babies given the name Miami from 1880 through 2025. Even 6 boys received the name Miami - about 1 boy for every 57 girls.
What Does the Name Miami Mean?
Miami is an English name taken from the place name Miami, Florida, which in turn comes from the Miami River. The river was named for the Mayaimi (also spelled Maymi), a Native American people who lived around Lake Okeechobee in southern Florida. Mayaimi is commonly interpreted as "big water" or "large lake," a reference to that lake. Because the Mayaimi language is only poorly documented, this is a traditional interpretation rather than a firmly established translation.
A separate name belongs to the Miami people (Myaamia) of the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes region, whose Algonquian language is usually called Miami-Illinois. The similar spelling does not mean the two names share an origin, and the meaning of Myaamia is itself uncertain.
Miami Name History & Origins
The Mayaimi were encountered by Spanish explorers in the 16th century. The account attributed to Hernando de Escalante Fontaneda, written in the 1570s, names the Mayaimi and their lake, and later Spanish maps applied the name to the lake and the surrounding country. Through English usage the name was carried to the Miami River on the southeastern Florida coast.
In the 19th century a settlement grew at the mouth of that river, and the city of Miami was incorporated in 1896, taking its name from the river. From the place name, Miami came into use as a personal given name in the United States, used mainly for girls; it has no long tradition as a personal name in English, Spanish, or Native American naming practice.
How Popular is the Name Miami?
Miami has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2021. Its best rank was #4,163 in 1926.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #8,691 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2024 | #14,637 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2023 | #8,795 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2022 | #6,621 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 2021 | #6,090 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 2020 | #9,347 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 2019 | #8,450 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2018 | #8,985 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2017 | #8,143 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2016 | #6,821 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2014 | #8,803 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2013 | #7,635 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2012 | #7,062 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2011 | #8,995 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2010 | #16,309 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2009 | #7,251 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2008 | #7,637 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2007 | #9,375 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2006 | #11,167 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2005 | #9,259 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2004 | #11,317 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2003 | #17,479 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2001 | #14,740 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2000 | #10,452 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1999 | #16,030 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1997 | #10,462 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1994 | #14,928 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1993 | #12,878 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1936 | #4,656 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1926 | #4,163 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1922 | #4,843 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | #11,808 | 6 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Miami Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have psychic power. You can carry on for others with joy. You have a receptive nature and may bear burdens for others. You are pragmatic, thorough, strong-willed, practical and stubborn at times. You are hard working, often martyr to duty. You like home and security above all. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Miami's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Miami's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.