text: Biblical Name Vault:\n\nMeaning, origin and etymology of the name Miriam (Mary)\n\n• Miriam  (Ex 15:20) Mariam  (Mat 1:16) Maria (Mary) \n1) Prophetess and older sister of Moses and Aaron 2) Mother of Jesus 3) Some others.\n\nA few possibilities: \n(1) From  Mara meaning rebellious, disobedient. Derivation  Meri means rebellion. Transliterated to Greek yields the name of Mary, the mother of Jesus. \n\nJones initially reads Their Rebellion. NOBSE reads Obstinacy, Stubbornness.\n\n(2) From  Mar and  Yam meaning sea. \n Mar means bitter;  Mar means myrrh. Both come from the root  Marar meaning be bitter, strengthen, strong.\n Mar probably means drop but is used only once, in Isa 40:15). \nJones (additionally) and Jerome read Stella Maris (star of the sea), but that strikes as a very free interpretation. \nThe name Miriam (Mary) means Bitternesses but also Strong Waters/ Waters Of Strength. \n\nClick here for more info:\nhttp://www.abarim-publications.com/Arie/Names/Miriam.html