What does Miriam make you think of?

[Maestosa]

What connotations spring to mind? (apart from Moses' sister of course)

Some really lovely people I have known/know
The Bible Character
A person who probably has either a Jewish or a Christian background

To me it's a Jewish name. Very pretty.

Agree Margoyles. It’s not a great association. I’m not a fan, I know we’re supposed to think she’s a national treasure but I just find her to be a rude slob.

That's very specific! Good to know that people think it's a name that also ages well :)

The first name I think of is Miriam Rivera. That's a sad tale tbh.

And quite vulgar

I'm not a big fan of hers, either, but for me she isn't the first thing to spring to mind when I hear this name.

Personally, I think of either a young, dynamic Israeli woman or someone whose very gentle and, like someone else said, a bit ethereal :) The Jewish/Christian connotations are strong, which I like.

I love those old testament names. Miriam, Rebecca, Leah, Rachel, Deborah. I think of intelligence, maturity, sophistication

I love it, it’s a great name.

Same as you OP, Margolyes isn’t my first thought.

Very common name in my community (orthodox Jewish). I'd assume you were also Jewish. The nickname were Miri is more common for younger generation.

It makes me think of my 8yo daughter, who unsurprisingly, is someone I'm rather fond of.

We are a Jewish family, and DD1 is named after my husband's grandmother, who died the year before DD1 was born. In Ashkenazi culture, we tend not to use the name of living relatives (it's a superstitious thing, it's considered bad luck), instead tradition is to name a child after the most recently deceased relative (unless someone else has got there first). In terms of Jewish culture, Miriam isn't the most imaginative name, but we love it.

I know some people see it as an old lady name, but my daughter has girls in her small class called Ivy, Pearl, Olive, and Mabel, so I really don't think Miriam is any more "old lady" than those.

Oh and the PP has reminded me, DD1 is called Miri for short.

I think it's a fabulous name; not overused, has a definite ending (not -ay, -ee, -uh) and has multiple abbreviations.

In terms of what it makes me think of, the Miriam who was a medical doctor in the military and came on our Guide camps as a first aider (her mum was the Guide leader), Miriam from the Bible and 13-yr-old DD's friend who is known as Mim. I know of a couple of older teenaged Miriams, both who are known as Miri. Because of the Miriams I know, I think of it as a strong name belonging to an intelligent individual who knows their mind. I've seen 'wished for child' given as one of its possible meanings which is lovely.

I knew a Miriam who was artistic, fiercely intelligent and funny. So I think of this name with fondness

Someone prim and proper and a bit of a wet lettuce.

Lovely, underused name.

Thank you for sharing this :)

The Miriam I know is muslim (Turkish) she's a beautiful person. I think it's a name that spans many cultures and is probably ready to have another popularity wave. I see it as a more interesting version of Maria

It makes me think of a friend of my mum's (Irish, would be late 70s) who is a lovely, kind, stylish lady and a wonderful friend. So I like the name as I associate it with someone lovely.

An amazing kind, clever, beautiful friend.

Miriam Stoppard is my first thought - I think she wrote a pregnancy book?

Theatre Shoes by Noel Streatfield. She's one of the cousins.

It must be one of the first times I heard it, because I know Margolyes and Mrs Maisel and all the biblical connections, but I think of Theatre Shoes.

I love it.

It makes me think of the character from the new Disney film, Turning Red. But I have a 3 year old DD that is a bit too obsessed with that film 😁

Its a nice name.

I really like it.

Classic names are back in style and you can’t go wrong with Miriam. I only know one, the mother of a friend. She was always well dressed, a real beautiful lady in every way but also do much fun. Love her to bits