NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Mahan

Masculine name of Persian origin meaning "great" or "eminent".

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.

Mahan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Mahan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 5 births.

This profile covers 30 England and Wales registrations across 9 recorded years from 1998 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 30 living people in the UK are called Mahan. 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

  • Mahan ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2023, when 5 boys were registered as Mahan.
  • About 30 living people in the UK are estimated to have Mahan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5119

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

2023

5 births

Estimated living

30

2026

Meaning

What does Mahan mean?

The name Mahan is derived from the Sanskrit language and has its roots in ancient Indian culture. It is believed to have originated around the 5th century BCE, during the Vedic period of Indian history.

One of the earliest known references to the name Mahan can be found in the ancient Hindu scripture, the Mahabharata. In this epic, Mahan is mentioned as the name of a warrior and a skilled archer. The name is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit word "maha," which means "great" or "mighty," suggesting that Mahan was originally a title bestowed upon someone of great stature or accomplishment.

The name Mahan gained popularity in various parts of the Indian subcontinent and was often associated with individuals who exhibited strength, courage, and leadership qualities. It was particularly prevalent among the warrior class and the nobility.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Mahan was Mahan Nayak, a 16th-century ruler of the Gajapati Empire in present-day Odisha, India. He was known for his military conquests and his patronage of arts and literature.

In the 17th century, Mahan Singh was a prominent Rajput ruler of the Bundela clan in central India. He played a significant role in the resistance against the Mughal Empire and is remembered for his bravery and strategic military skills.

Another notable figure with the name Mahan was Mahan Lal Sukul, a 19th-century Indian scholar and writer. He made significant contributions to the field of Hindi literature and is considered one of the pioneers of the modern Hindi novel.

In the 20th century, Mahan Singh Bahadur was a highly decorated Indian military officer who served in both World Wars. He was awarded the Military Cross for his bravery during World War I and was later appointed as the Governor of Uttar Pradesh.

Mahan Kosh, an eminent Indian philosopher and spiritual leader, was born in 1932. He was known for his teachings on Vedanta and his efforts to promote harmony among different religions and cultures.

While the name Mahan has its origins in ancient India, it has since been adopted and used in various cultures and communities around the world, often carrying the connotation of greatness, strength, and nobility.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Mahan over time

The chart below shows babies named Mahan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 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 Mahan, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 5 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Mahan
01345199820112024

Decades

Mahan by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Mahan 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 #4358 15 4
2010s #4794 12 4
1990s #2901 3 1

Related

Names similar to Mahan

FAQ

Mahan: questions and answers

How popular is the name Mahan in the UK right now?

In 2024, Mahan was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Mahan most popular?

The peak year on record was 2023, with 5 babies registered as Mahan in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Mahan?

Masculine name of Persian origin meaning "great" or "eminent".

How many people are called Mahan in the UK?

A total of 30 babies have been registered as Mahan across the 9 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.