Mariah is a name of Hebrew origin and means "sea of bitterness". It is believed to have been derived from the name Miriam, which was the sister of Moses in the Bible. The name Mariah gained popularity in the United States during the late 20th century, likely due to its use by celebrities such as singer Mariah Carey. Despite its somewhat somber meaning, many people find the name Mariah appealing because it has a beautiful and melodic sound to it.
The name Mariah has been a popular choice for parents in the United States over the past few decades, with a total of 183 babies named Mariah since 1976. The name first gained popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with the highest number of births occurring in 1992 (15 births) and 1994 (13 births). During this time, Mariah was likely influenced by popular culture, such as singer Mariah Carey who rose to fame in the early 1990s.
After a peak in popularity, the name's usage fluctuated but remained relatively steady throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s. However, there was another spike in popularity around 2004 with 11 births, which may have been influenced by Mariah Carey's continued success in the music industry.
Despite a slight decline in recent years (6 births in both 2010 and 2011), Mariah continues to be a recognized name in the United States. It is interesting to note that there has been an increase in births with this name in recent years, with 8 babies named Mariah born in 2014. This could indicate a renewed interest in the name or simply be a result of statistical variation.
Overall, these statistics show that while the name Mariah has experienced some fluctuations in popularity over time, it remains a well-established and recognizable choice for parents in the United States.