The name Miranda is of Latin origin, meaning “worthy of admiration” or “to be wondered at,” derived from the Latin verb mirari, which means “to admire” or “to wonder at.” It gained prominence through William Shakespeare’s 1611 play The Tempest, where the character Miranda is the daughter of Prospero, the Duke of Milan. In the play, she is praised as “Admired Miranda! Indeed the top of admiration! Worth what’s dearest to the world!”

After its introduction in literature, Miranda gradually became more popular as a given name, especially in English-speaking countries in the 20th century. The name’s rise in popularity during the 1990s was partly influenced by its phonetic similarity to the common name Amanda. It also made its mark in various cultural references, such as Miranda Frost in the James Bond film Die Another Day and Miranda Sings, a satirical YouTube character created by Colleen Ballinger.

In addition to being a first name, Miranda is also a surname of Spanish, Portuguese, Sephardic Jewish, Italian, and Maltese origins, meaning “worthy of admiration.” The surname is found in various regions, including the Philippines and India, particularly within specific communities.