Mariah

MelodicRomanticModernElegantSpirited

Mariah is a variant of Maria, derived from the Hebrew name Miriam, meaning 'wished-for child,' 'rebellion,' or 'bitter.' The name gained prominence in English-speaking countries and carries a lyrical, melodic quality with its flowing syllables.

Current Popularity

#448 for girls

in the United States (2025)

Projected 2026: #467, likely #390 to #544

↗Declining

Popularity over time

188019502020
Recent years · births per year

Dashed bar: 2026 (projected): 657. How this is calculated

Yearly values
  • 2011: 2,995
  • 2012: 2,908
  • 2013: 2,773
  • 2014: 2,409
  • 2015: 2,118
  • 2016: 1,930
  • 2017: 1,617
  • 2018: 1,440
  • 2019: 1,197
  • 2020: 1,071
  • 2021: 958
  • 2022: 933
  • 2023: 783
  • 2024: 760
  • 2025: 693
  • 2026 (projected): 657

Good to Know

Common nicknames: Mari, Riah, Ria, Mimi, Mary
  • •Pronunciation is straightforward (muh-RYE-uh)
  • •Strongly associated with singer Mariah Carey since the 1990s
  • •Spelling is consistent and easy to remember
  • •Has a musical, flowing quality when spoken
  • •Multiple spelling variations exist

Famous People

M

Mariah Carey

Grammy-winning singer and songwriter

M

Mariah Riddlesprigger

Volleyball player and entrepreneur

M

Mariah Bell

Olympic figure skater

Statistics

115,096

Total births since 1880

1996

Peak year

Discovery

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