Meaning: Its source is Miryam, a Hebrew name meaning "Wished-for child."

Popularity: The name Mariam ranked 661st in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics and 1392nd in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Though this name has fluctuated in use, it has been quietly present throughout the last century.

Narrative: The original Miryam of the Hebrew scriptures was sister to Moses and Aaron. Some scholars believe her name, and those of her brothers, could have originated in the ancient Egyptian language, and that their meanings are lost. Others offer alternate interpretations, including ''rebellion'' and ''sea of bitterness.''

Various forms derived from Miryam -- Latin Maria developed into French Marie, then English Mary. Among Christians, they are venerated as the name of the mother of Jesus Christ. St. Jerome associated the Virgin's name with the Latin phrase stella maris (''star of the sea''), and this can be regarded as yet another meaning that inspired the widespread use of so many forms of this name.