NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Mahra

A feminine Arabic name meaning "dowry" or "precious gift".

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.

Mahra is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Mahra popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3318, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 10 births.

This profile covers 34 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 2014 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 70% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 34 living people in the UK are called Mahra. 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

  • Mahra ranked #3318 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 7 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2023, when 10 girls were registered as Mahra.
  • About 34 living people in the UK are estimated to have Mahra as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3318

2024

Births in 2024

7

Latest year

Peak year

2023

10 births

Estimated living

34

2026

Meaning

What does Mahra mean?

The name Mahra is believed to have originated from the ancient Sanskrit language and culture of India. It is derived from the word "maha," which means "great" or "grand," and "ra," which can mean "king" or "ruler." Thus, the name Mahra may have originally signified someone of great importance or a powerful leader.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mahra can be found in the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata. In this epic, Mahra is mentioned as the name of a powerful king from the Kuru dynasty. The Mahabharata is estimated to have been composed between the 8th and 4th centuries BCE, suggesting that the name Mahra has been in use for over 2,500 years.

Another historical reference to the name Mahra can be found in the ancient Hindu scriptures known as the Puranas. In the Vishnu Purana, a text dating back to around the 4th or 5th century CE, Mahra is mentioned as the name of a sage or rishi who was renowned for his wisdom and spiritual knowledge.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Mahra. One of the earliest recorded examples is Mahra, an Indian mathematician and astronomer who lived in the 6th century CE. He is credited with making significant contributions to the field of mathematics, particularly in the areas of algebra and trigonometry.

Another prominent figure with the name Mahra is Mahra Kurukulasuriya, a Sri Lankan writer and poet who lived from 1912 to 1975. He is considered one of the most influential literary figures in Sri Lanka and is renowned for his contributions to the Sinhala language and literature.

In the realm of music, Mahra Arroyo is a notable Puerto Rican singer and songwriter born in 1981. She is known for her fusion of Latin and pop music and has released several successful albums throughout her career.

Additionally, Mahra Rokhi is an Afghan politician and women's rights activist born in 1959. She has played a significant role in advocating for women's empowerment and gender equality in Afghanistan, and has served as a member of the Afghan Parliament.

Finally, Mahra Al-Maliki is an Iraqi archaeologist and academic born in 1958. She has made significant contributions to the study and preservation of ancient Mesopotamian artifacts and has authored several books on the subject.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Mahra over time

The chart below shows babies named Mahra registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2014 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 Mahra, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2024, compared with 10 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Mahra
035810201420192024

Decades

Mahra by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Mahra 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 #3423 27 4
2010s #5138 7 2

Related

Names similar to Mahra

FAQ

Mahra: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Mahra was ranked #3318 for girls in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.

When was Mahra most popular?

The peak year on record was 2023, with 10 babies registered as Mahra in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Mahra?

A feminine Arabic name meaning "dowry" or "precious gift".

How many people are called Mahra in the UK?

A total of 34 babies have been registered as Mahra across the 6 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.