What does Miriam mean?
An ancient Hebrew name of debated meaning, variously read “beloved,” “bitter,” or “of the sea.” Miriam is the sister of Moses.
What does Josie mean?
Josie is a pet form of Josephine, from the Hebrew, “God shall add.”
Miriam vs Josie
Which is more popular?
Josie is more popular than Miriam today: about 3,021 US babies were given the name Josie in 2025, compared with 1,262 named Miriam.
| Miriam | Josie | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Of debated origin | God shall add |
| Origin | Hebrew | Hebrew |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | MEER-ee-um | JOH-zee |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 1924 (1,834) | 2025 (3,021) |
| In 2025 | 1,262 | 3,021 |
| Trend | Steady | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Miriam
Josie
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Miriam | Josie |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 7,334 | 14,981 |
| 2010s | 10,927 | 13,927 |
| 2000s | 11,356 | 10,634 |
| 1990s | 10,071 | 6,039 |
| 1980s | 7,729 | 2,545 |
| 1970s | 6,433 | 2,123 |
| 1960s | 8,084 | 2,060 |
| 1950s | 9,544 | 2,427 |
| 1940s | 7,107 | 3,374 |
| 1930s | 8,348 | 3,464 |
| 1920s | 15,504 | 4,095 |
| 1910s | 11,048 | 3,370 |
| 1900s | 2,566 | 2,118 |
| 1890s | 1,397 | 2,329 |
| 1880s | 462 | 1,884 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Miriam or Josie more popular?
Josie is more popular than Miriam today: about 3,021 US babies were given the name Josie in 2025, compared with 1,262 named Miriam.
What is the difference between Miriam and Josie?
Miriam means Of debated origin (Hebrew origin), while Josie means God shall add (Hebrew origin).
Which name is older, Miriam or Josie?
In US records, Miriam first appears in 1880 and Josie in 1880, so Miriam has the longer recorded history.