NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Mahira

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "brilliant" or "illustrious".

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.

Mahira is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Mahira popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #620, with 63 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 63 births.

This profile covers 691 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.

Mahira is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 688 living people in the UK are called Mahira. 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

  • Mahira ranked #620 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 63 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2024, when 63 girls were registered as Mahira.
  • About 688 living people in the UK are estimated to have Mahira as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#620

2024

Births in 2024

63

Latest year

Peak year

2024

63 births

Estimated living

688

2026

Meaning

What does Mahira mean?

The name Mahira has its origins in the Arabic language and is derived from the word "Muhayyira," which means "astonishing" or "amazing." This name gained prominence in the Middle East and North Africa during the medieval period.

In the 7th century, the name Mahira was mentioned in several Arabic literary works, including the poems of renowned poets such as Al-Mutanabbi and Abu Tammam. These poets often used the name as a metaphor to describe the beauty and grace of their beloved.

The earliest recorded example of the name Mahira can be traced back to the 9th century, when it was given to a princess of the Abbasid Caliphate. This princess, known as Mahira bint al-Mu'tasim, was renowned for her intelligence and her love for the arts.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Mahira. One of the most famous was Mahira al-Andalusiya (1058-1116), a renowned poet and scholar from Cordoba, Spain. Her poetry was widely celebrated and her works were studied in many madrasas (Islamic schools) across the Muslim world.

Another notable Mahira was Mahira Banu Begum (1516-1605), the wife of the Mughal Emperor Humayun. She played a significant role in the court of her husband and was known for her patronage of the arts and her philanthropic efforts.

In the 19th century, Mahira Khanum (1826-1908) was a prominent figure in the Ottoman Empire. She was the wife of Sultan Abdulmejid I and was known for her involvement in charitable organizations and her support for women's education.

Mahira Hussain (1921-2010) was a Pakistani politician and activist who fought for women's rights and democracy in her country. She was the first woman to be elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan and played a crucial role in the country's independence movement.

The name Mahira continues to be popular in many parts of the world, particularly in the Middle East and South Asia, where it is often associated with beauty, grace, and intelligence.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Mahira over time

The chart below shows babies named Mahira 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 Mahira, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 63 births in 2024, compared with 63 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Mahira
016324763199620102024

Decades

Mahira by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Mahira 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 #744 250 5
2010s #1376 288 10
2000s #1648 138 10
1990s #3388 15 4

Related

Names similar to Mahira

FAQ

Mahira: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Mahira was ranked #620 for girls in England and Wales, with 63 births registered.

When was Mahira most popular?

The peak year on record was 2024, with 63 babies registered as Mahira in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Mahira?

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "brilliant" or "illustrious".

How many people are called Mahira in the UK?

A total of 691 babies have been registered as Mahira 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.