UK girl's name
Hirah
A feminine Arabic name meaning radiant or brilliant.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Hirah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Hirah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2014, with 17 births.
This profile covers 201 England and Wales registrations across 19 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 18% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 200 living people in the UK are called Hirah. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Hirah ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2014, when 17 girls were registered as Hirah.
- • About 200 living people in the UK are estimated to have Hirah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5891
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2014
17 births
Estimated living
200
2026
Meaning
What does Hirah mean?
The name Hirah is believed to have originated in the Persian language, with its roots traced back to the ancient Persian culture and civilization. It is derived from the Persian word "Hir," which means "lion" or "brave warrior." The name carries connotations of strength, courage, and valor.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hirah can be found in ancient Persian literature and historical texts dating back to the 6th century BCE. During this period, the name was often bestowed upon warriors and nobles as a symbol of their bravery and heroic deeds on the battlefield.
In the Islamic tradition, Hirah holds significance as it is the name of a historic town located in the Arabian Peninsula, near the city of Kufa in present-day Iraq. This town was an important center of trade and commerce during the pre-Islamic era and played a pivotal role in the spread of early Islamic teachings.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Hirah. One such individual was Hirah al-Abdi (d. 632 CE), a renowned Arab poet and warrior who lived during the early days of Islam. His poetic works were highly acclaimed and celebrated for their eloquence and depth.
Another prominent figure with the name Hirah was Hirah ibn Yazdad (d. 670 CE), a distinguished military commander who served under the Umayyad Caliphate. He was known for his strategic prowess and played a crucial role in the conquest of several territories, including parts of Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent.
In the realm of literature, Hirah al-Basri (d. 728 CE) was a celebrated Arab poet and scholar who lived during the Umayyad period. His poetic works were widely admired for their intricate imagery and profound insights into human nature.
During the Abbasid Caliphate, Hirah ibn Abi Sabra (d. 815 CE) was a prominent jurist and theologian who made significant contributions to the development of Islamic jurisprudence and legal theory.
Another notable figure was Hirah al-Andalusi (d. 976 CE), a renowned scholar and mathematician from the Iberian Peninsula. He was widely recognized for his groundbreaking work in the field of algebra and his contributions to the advancement of mathematical knowledge during the Islamic Golden Age.
These historical references and notable individuals serve as a testament to the rich cultural heritage and significance associated with the name Hirah, which has been carried through the ages and across various regions and civilizations.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Hirah over time
The chart below shows babies named Hirah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Hirah, the clearest high point is 2014. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 17 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Hirah by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Hirah was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4796 | 12 | 3 |
| 2010s | #1950 | 143 | 10 |
| 2000s | #3070 | 42 | 5 |
| 1990s | #3126 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Hirah
- Hannah 67,635
- Holly 52,307
- Harriet 24,781
- Hollie 17,902
- Harper 15,784
- Heidi 12,675
- Hallie 9,873
- Hope 9,414
- Hayley 5,968
- Hazel 5,954
- Hanna 5,735
- Heather 5,497
FAQ
Hirah: questions and answers
How popular is the name Hirah in the UK right now?
In 2024, Hirah was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Hirah most popular?
The peak year on record was 2014, with 17 babies registered as Hirah in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Hirah?
A feminine Arabic name meaning radiant or brilliant.
How many people are called Hirah in the UK?
A total of 201 babies have been registered as Hirah across the 19 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.