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Mariama as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Mariama

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The baby name Mariama is a Female name , 4 syllables long and is pronounced mah-REE-ah-ma.

Mariama is Semitic in Origin.

Gender: Female
Syllables: 4.0
Origin: Semitic
Pronunciation: mah-REE-ah-ma

What is the meaning of the name Mariama ?

The baby name Mariama is a Female name , 4 syllables long and is pronounced mah-REE-ah-ma.

Mariama is Semitic in Origin.

Mariama is a West African feminine name rooted in Arabic Maryam, itself from Hebrew Miriam. It gained currency through Islamic scholarship and trade and also through Christian devotion, linking it to Maryam bint ‘Imrān (in the Qur’an) and the Virgin Mary. The exact meaning of the ancient root is debated; common explanations include “beloved,” “wished‑for child,” and “bitter/sea of bitterness.” In practice, the name often carries connotations of grace, dignity, and maternal protection.

Used across Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria, Mariama reflects French-influenced orthography in the region (final -a). It appears in 19th‑ and 20th‑century records and remains popular today. Notable bearers include Senegalese novelist Mariama Bâ. Variants and cognates include Maryam (Arabic, Persian), Mariam (Georgian/Armenian), Myriam (French), Miriam (Hebrew/English), and Maryam/Mariamah forms in local languages. Nicknames may include Mari, Mimi, or Ama.

Mariama has the following similar or variant Names

Mariama – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
BF Girls 0 #16 2 315
CM 0 #51 6 2,592
AO 0 #76 2 2,729
OM 0 #121 1 6,215
Switzerland Girls 2024 #132 4 1,786
GH Girls 0 #141 264 6,973
MT Girls 0 #153 1 3,773
Belgium Girls 2022 #167 25 404
Sweden Girls 2022 #174 6 1,568
LU Girls 0 #182 9 4,850
CZ 0 #185 2 3,154
AO Girls 0 #187 23 4,575
GH 0 #188 56 5,396
RU 0 #194 1 3,641
CM Girls 0 #227 422 11,671
IR 0 #230 2 4,221
PT 0 #248 3 4,161
France Girls 2021 #249 169 3,185
AO Boys 0 #249 1 5,568
JP Girls 0 #249 3 6,592
MO Girls 0 #263 1 7,056
Canada Girls 2024 #273 13 2,795
DK Girls 0 #299 18 7,429
SA 0 #312 1 10,560
SD Girls 0 #331 15 7,678
QA Girls 0 #335 9 15,378
PT Girls 0 #336 122 7,952
CZ Girls 0 #351 1 5,378
CN Girls 0 #354 6 8,829
GH Boys 0 #358 4 8,138
MU Girls 0 #360 3 8,539
PL Girls 0 #364 1 5,096
PT Boys 0 #380 2 7,951
Finland Girls 0 #382 10 1,368
KW Girls 0 #382 134 19,177
OM Girls 0 #385 12 15,987
YE 0 #397 2 8,639
BD Girls 0 #405 2 8,413
EG 0 #412 1 6,387
PH Girls 0 #427 3 13,098
SD Boys 0 #466 1 10,523
ZA 0 #474 1 14,421
LY 0 #517 19 12,703
IQ Girls 0 #521 5 11,303
RU Girls 0 #521 3 11,913
AE Girls 0 #524 30 20,968
CM Boys 0 #528 23 12,054
UY Girls 0 #536 1 6,731
BH 0 #543 11 17,937
IR Girls 0 #543 3 8,334
PS Girls 0 #546 2 10,981
MA 0 #559 777 20,986
CR Girls 0 #570 4 11,342
SG Girls 0 #626 7 18,916
AR Girls 0 #629 2 8,289
LB 0 #640 19 13,263
IL Girls 0 #644 2 11,648
HK Girls 0 #648 3 16,104
BO Girls 0 #650 2 9,488
Finland Girls 2026 #678 61 3,895
IT 0 #704 11 4,183
Spain Girls 0 #732 255 5,561
NG Girls 0 #759 28 15,093
SY 0 #766 2 11,684
BR Boys 0 #785 1 12,213
Germany Girls 0 #797 42 4,949
KW Boys 0 #806 1 18,755
TN 0 #813 17 13,765
SA Girls 0 #826 110 25,931
United States Girls 2024 #840 77 8,487
NL Girls 0 #883 73 5,933
EG Girls 0 #898 62 14,742
CL Girls 0 #914 2 14,098
OM Boys 0 #916 3 17,948
Spain Boys 0 #921 10 5,610
EG Boys 0 #923 3 15,035
MY Girls 0 #954 41 24,821
BR Girls 0 #988 5 12,708
PE Girls 0 #1,009 2 14,861
IN Boys 0 #1,039 1 16,750
IT Girls 0 #1,090 365 9,415
DZ 0 #1,114 63 20,130
CO Girls 0 #1,147 6 16,140
MY Boys 0 #1,182 1 25,439
ZA Girls 0 #1,230 7 25,928
TR 0 #1,250 5 19,440
MX Girls 0 #1,267 1 17,781
IT Boys 0 #1,462 10 10,046
SA Boys 0 #1,688 4 28,008

Mariama is popular in 63 countries — most recent births per country:

France
Canada
United States
Switzerland
Brussels, Belgium

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People also ask about Mariama

Mariama is predominantly a girl's name.
Mariama is a 4 syllable name, pronounced mah-REE-ah-ma.
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Mariam, Maryam, Meryem, Mariem and Mariamma.
Yes — Mariama ranked #132 in Switzerland in 2024, and appears in official birth registries across 8 countries.
Mariama ranks highest in Switzerland (#132 in 2024).
Mariama's popularity is rising significantly. It moved from #322 in 2011 to #249 in 2021 in France.