Meaning: Its source is a Latin expression meaning "Wonderful."

Languages: This girl's name is used in Dutch, English, Spanish and Polish.

Nicknames: Mandee, Mandi, Mandie, Mandy, Mindy, Randa, Randee and Randy

Compound Forms: Sheranda

Alternative Spellings: Maranda and Myranda

Variant Forms: Meranda

Non-English Forms: Mireya

Popularity: The name Miranda ranked 137th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics, 480th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census and 54th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1994 US Census.

This name was popular earlier in the 20th century, then fell off in usage, but has begun making a comeback in recent years.

Narrative: This name was invented by William Shakespeare for the young heroine of his play The Tempest. In the play, fifteen-year-old Miranda, who has never met a man other than her father, Prospero, meets young Fernando (to whom she proposes marriage) and other members of an expedition seeking her father. Reflecting on these encounters, she delivers the famous line, ''O brave new world that has such people in't!''