Fun Facts About the Name Miri
- 871 babies named Miri: U.S. records list 871 babies given the name Miri from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Miri Mean?
Miri is a Hebrew name used chiefly as a short form of Miriam (מִרְיָם), the sister of Moses and Aaron in the Hebrew Bible. Its meaning depends on the meaning of Miriam, which is not settled. The explanation most often given connects Miriam with the Hebrew mar (מַר), "bitter," and a related tradition links it to mor (מוֹר), "myrrh," the fragrant resin burned as incense and used in anointing oil. Other writers derive the name from a root (מָרָה, marah) meaning "rebellion" or "disobedience," and some scholars have proposed an Egyptian origin from mry, "beloved." Because the original form of Miriam does not fit standard Hebrew patterns cleanly, none of these derivations has been proved. Miri itself is made from Miriam by shortening it and adding the Hebrew ending -i, a familiar way of forming everyday and affectionate versions of names (as in Yossi from Yosef). It has no separate root or literal translation of its own.
Miri Name History & Origins
Miriam is one of the oldest continuously used Jewish women's names, appearing in the biblical books of Exodus, Numbers, and Micah. The short form Miri belongs to the later spoken Hebrew habit of trimming longer names, and it is a common everyday given name in modern Israel. In Yiddish-speaking communities of Central and Eastern Europe, affectionate forms of the same name such as Mirele were used, and Miri fits the same pattern of familiar shortening. Where the longer forms are standard - Mirjam in German, Dutch, and Scandinavian use, Miriam in English - the clipped form Miri appears as well, usually as a family nickname rather than a formal name.
Spellings that look identical occur in unrelated languages. In Japanese, for example, Miri is written with kanji chosen for their own meanings rather than borrowed from Hebrew, so the resemblance in sound and spelling is coincidental and does not reflect a shared origin. The Malaysian city of Miri is likewise unrelated.
How Popular is the Name Miri?
Miri 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 2022. Its best rank was #3,255 in 2022.
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 | #3,329 | 47 | 0.0029% |
| 2024 | #3,613 | 43 | 0.0027% |
| 2023 | #3,560 | 44 | 0.0027% |
| 2022 | #3,255 | 50 | 0.0031% |
| 2021 | #4,215 | 34 | 0.0021% |
| 2020 | #5,273 | 24 | 0.0015% |
| 2019 | #5,125 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 2018 | #4,529 | 31 | 0.0018% |
| 2017 | #4,550 | 31 | 0.0018% |
| 2016 | #4,057 | 37 | 0.0021% |
| 2015 | #4,682 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 2014 | #4,860 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 2013 | #4,221 | 35 | 0.0020% |
| 2012 | #4,095 | 37 | 0.0021% |
| 2011 | #4,648 | 31 | 0.0018% |
| 2010 | #4,821 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 2009 | #4,165 | 37 | 0.0020% |
| 2008 | #5,235 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 2007 | #7,976 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2006 | #14,632 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2005 | #9,919 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2004 | #12,384 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2003 | #17,520 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2002 | #11,832 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2001 | #9,163 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2000 | #9,661 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1999 | #12,243 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1998 | #11,981 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1994 | #9,347 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1993 | #8,492 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1992 | #10,132 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1991 | #12,549 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #12,377 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1987 | #10,768 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1986 | #8,230 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1985 | #8,945 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1984 | #9,928 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1983 | #9,800 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1982 | #7,272 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1980 | #6,184 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1978 | #9,309 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1977 | #8,100 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1976 | #8,845 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1975 | #6,906 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1974 | #9,700 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1973 | #8,066 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1972 | #7,026 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1970 | #8,862 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1968 | #7,790 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1967 | #7,500 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1962 | #7,235 | 5 | 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.
Explore More Lists with Name Miri
Most Popular Girl Names That Start with M
Unique Short Girl Names That Start with M
How the Name Miri 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.
Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.
✦ Miri's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Miri's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.