Hiram

Meaning of Hiram

Hiram, pronounced HY-ruhm, traces to the Hebrew חִירָם (Ḥīrām), generally interpreted as “my brother is exalted” or, more technically, “exalted brother,” a designation that situates the bearer within a framework of elevated kinship rather than simple personal prestige. In the Hebrew Bible the name is assigned to two figures of note—the King of Tyre who supplied cedar and artisans to Solomon, and the master metalworker charged with casting the Temple furnishings—thereby embedding Hiram in narratives of diplomatic acumen and skilled craftsmanship that have resonated through Western culture and, by extension, Anglo-American naming practice. Freemasonry later amplified the name’s visibility through the allegorical figure Hiram Abiff, reinforcing associations with architectural knowledge, moral fortitude, and ritual significance. Although Hiram peaked in American civil-registration data during the late nineteenth century and has since receded to the lower mid-ranks (hovering between roughly 560th and 850th place over the past half-century), the name’s uninterrupted presence in U.S. birth records attests to a stable, if niche, appeal among parents who value historical depth, biblical lineage, and understated distinction.