Miranda is a feminine given name derived from Latin mirandus, meaning "admirable, worthy of being admired". The name was coined by William Shakespeare for the heroine of his play The Tempest (1611), in which Miranda and her father Prospero are stranded on an island. Over the following centuries, the name gained limited use, primarily in the Anglosphere, and spiked in popularity in the 20th century. Etymology and Historical Context From the Latin verb miror ("to wonder at, admire") comes the gerundive mirandus ("to be admired"). Though the name existed earlier as a surname—borne by figures like the Spanish painter Juan Carreño de Miranda (1614–1685) and the grammarian Giovanni Miranda (fl. 1566)—Shakespeare was the first to adopt it as a given name. In The Tempest, Miranda is the daughter of the exiled magician Prospero, and her name is evoked within the play itself: “Admired Miranda! Indeed the top of admiration! Worth what's dearest to the world!” Parents began naming daughters after this character as early as the 1700s. Notable Bearers Famous Mirandas include actress Miranda Kerr (born 1983), fashion model Miranda Lambert (born 1983), and singer Miranda Cosgrove (born 1993). Miranda is also a notable place name in multiple countries, including Brazil and the Philippines. Cultural Significance The name also belongs to one of the moons of Uranus, discovered in 1948 and named after the Shakespearean character, following the tradition of naming Uranian moons after figures from William Shakespeare and Alexander Pope. Distribution and Variants Though Shakespearean in origin, Miranda gained more popularity in the United States than elsewhere in the Anglosphere, possibly due to its similarity to the existing name Amanda (from Latin amanda, “worthy of love”). The name declined after 1900 but resurged in the late 20th century. Variants include Marinda and Myranda. Common diminutives include Randi 1 and Randy. Meaning: "admirable, worthy of being admired" Origin: Latin; coined by William Shakespeare Type: Feminine given name Usage Regions: Dutch, English, Italian (and broader Anglosphere)