Maryam

Maryam is the Arabic and Persian form of Miriam or Mary/Maria. Even though Miriam and Mary are two distinctly different women from the Bible (Miriam in the Old Testament as Moses’ sister and Mary from the New Testament as Jesus’ mother), both names are derived from the Hebrew Miryam probably from the Egyptian element “mry” meaning “beloved”. In Islamic tradition, however, Maryam is really in reference to the Virgin Mary (rather than Miriam from the Old Testament). In fact, Maryam is mentioned more times in the Qur'an than she is in the New Testament! Muslims see Maryam as the epitome of a chaste and righteous woman having been chosen by God/Allah among all women to bear Jesus (although they see neither person as divine). According to Muslim beliefs, Mary (Maryam) follows the lineage of Adam (Adem), Noah (Nuh), Abraham (Ibrahim), Isaac (Is’haq), and Moses (Musa). Further down this ancestral line came Maryam and Isa (i.e., Mary and Jesus); whereas Muhammad branches off from Ibrahim’s son Ishmael. Maryam and Isa are highly venerated in Islam, and are dedicated to the service of Allah. Muslims believe that it was Allah who performed the miracle of the virgin birth. Many Christians don’t realize the important position Maryam/Mary holds within the Islamic faith; indeed she is “beloved”. It’s just a different story line, but the Virgin Mother is highly regarded nonetheless. In the Western World, the name Maryam is used fairly heavily among Muslims in the countries of England, France, the Netherlands and the United States. It is also a Top 10 favorite among Persians and Arabs in Iran and Pakistan, and a top three girl’s name for Muslims in Israel.