NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Maheera

A feminine Arabic name meaning "brilliant" or "dazzling".

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.

Maheera is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Maheera popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4192, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 14 births.

This profile covers 77 England and Wales registrations across 13 recorded years from 2003 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 36% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 77 living people in the UK are called Maheera. 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

  • Maheera ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2016, when 14 girls were registered as Maheera.
  • About 77 living people in the UK are estimated to have Maheera as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4192

2024

Births in 2024

5

Latest year

Peak year

2016

14 births

Estimated living

77

2026

Meaning

What does Maheera mean?

The name Maheera is derived from the Arabic language and has its roots in the Middle East and North African regions. It is believed to have originated during the medieval period, possibly as early as the 7th or 8th century CE.

The name Maheera is thought to be a feminine variation of the Arabic word "mahir," which means "skilled" or "proficient." It may also be related to the word "maharat," meaning "skill" or "expertise." This suggests that the name Maheera could have been given to girls with the hope that they would grow up to be talented or accomplished individuals.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Maheera can be found in the writings of the renowned Arab poet and scholar Al-Mutanabbi, who lived from 915 to 965 CE. He mentioned a woman named Maheera in one of his poems, suggesting that the name was in use during that time period.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Maheera. One such person was Maheera bint Abdul Aziz (1255-1321), a renowned scholar and teacher from the city of Cordoba in present-day Spain. She was highly respected for her knowledge of Islamic law and theology.

Another noteworthy Maheera was Maheera al-Andalusiyya (1180-1245), a skilled calligrapher and poet from the Andalusian region of Spain during the Almohad dynasty. Her works were widely admired and helped preserve the rich literary tradition of the time.

In the realm of literature, Maheera al-Baghdadiyya (1220-1290) was a celebrated author and poet from Baghdad. She is best known for her collection of love poetry, which explored themes of desire and longing with remarkable insight and eloquence.

Maheera bint Abi Talib (585-645 CE) was a prominent figure in early Islamic history. She was the daughter of Abu Talib, the uncle of the Prophet Muhammad, and was known for her steadfast support of her cousin and his teachings.

Finally, Maheera al-Qurashiyya (1410-1480) was a renowned scholar and jurist from the city of Mecca. She made significant contributions to the field of Islamic jurisprudence and was highly regarded for her expertise in Sharia law.

These are just a few examples of the notable individuals who have borne the name Maheera throughout history, reflecting its rich cultural heritage and the diverse accomplishments of those who carried this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Maheera over time

The chart below shows babies named Maheera registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2003 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 Maheera, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 14 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Maheera
0471114200320132024

Decades

Maheera by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Maheera 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 #4407 14 3
2010s #3458 56 8
2000s #4328 7 2

Related

Names similar to Maheera

FAQ

Maheera: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Maheera was ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.

When was Maheera most popular?

The peak year on record was 2016, with 14 babies registered as Maheera in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Maheera?

A feminine Arabic name meaning "brilliant" or "dazzling".

How many people are called Maheera in the UK?

A total of 77 babies have been registered as Maheera across the 13 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.