UK boy's name
Mahir
A masculine Arabic name meaning skilled, proficient, or adept.
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.
Mahir is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Mahir popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #685, with 53 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2019, with 56 births.
This profile covers 979 England and Wales registrations across 29 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 95% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 972 living people in the UK are called Mahir. 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
- • Mahir ranked #685 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 53 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2019, when 56 boys were registered as Mahir.
- • About 972 living people in the UK are estimated to have Mahir as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#685
2024
Births in 2024
53
Latest year
Peak year
2019
56 births
Estimated living
972
2026
Meaning
What does Mahir mean?
The name Mahir has its origins in the Arabic language. It is derived from the Arabic word "mahir," which means "skilled" or "proficient." The name is believed to have originated in the Middle East region during the medieval period, when Arabic culture and language were spreading across the region.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Mahir can be found in ancient Arabic literature and poetry. It was often used to describe individuals who possessed exceptional skills or talents in various fields, such as warfare, poetry, or craftsmanship.
In the 9th century, there was a famous Arabic poet named Mahir ibn al-Muhalhal al-Shaybani, who was known for his exceptional literary skills and his contributions to the development of Arabic poetry. Another notable individual with the name Mahir was Mahir ibn Abi Umayyah, a 7th-century Arab military commander who played a significant role in the early Muslim conquests.
Throughout history, the name Mahir has been borne by various influential figures from different walks of life. For instance, Mahir al-Shu'aybi (1906-1985) was a renowned Syrian writer and intellectual who played a prominent role in the Arab literary renaissance of the 20th century. Mahir Cayan (1946-1972) was a Turkish revolutionary and leader of the People's Liberation Party-Front of Turkey, who fought against the military regime in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Another notable figure was Mahir Çayan (1946-1972), a Turkish revolutionary and leader of the People's Liberation Party-Front of Turkey, who fought against the military regime in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Mahir Günşıray (1904-1974) was a Turkish actor and director who made significant contributions to the development of Turkish cinema during the early 20th century.
Over the centuries, the name Mahir has been used by individuals from various cultural and ethnic backgrounds, reflecting its enduring popularity and the diverse influences that have shaped its meaning and significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Mahir over time
The chart below shows babies named Mahir 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 Mahir, the clearest high point is 2019. The latest England and Wales figure is 53 births in 2024, compared with 56 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mahir by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Mahir 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 | #756 | 231 | 5 |
| 2010s | #775 | 422 | 10 |
| 2000s | #839 | 277 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1165 | 49 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Mahir
- Matthew 80,931
- Mohammed 74,321
- Muhammad 72,235
- Max 59,807
- Michael 47,075
- Mason 38,935
- Mohammad 25,910
- Morgan 15,994
- Muhammed 11,527
- Mark 11,336
- Marcus 11,257
- Maxwell 10,006
FAQ
Mahir: questions and answers
How popular is the name Mahir in the UK right now?
In 2024, Mahir was ranked #685 for boys in England and Wales, with 53 births registered.
When was Mahir most popular?
The peak year on record was 2019, with 56 babies registered as Mahir in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Mahir?
A masculine Arabic name meaning skilled, proficient, or adept.
How many people are called Mahir in the UK?
A total of 979 babies have been registered as Mahir across the 29 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.