UK name, mostly boys
Mahtab
The feminine name Mahtab is of Persian origin, meaning "moon" or "moonlight.".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 3 girls.
Mahtab is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Mahtab popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4991, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 3 births.
This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2003 to 2023. 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Mahtab. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Mahtab ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2003, when 3 boys were registered as Mahtab.
- • Mahtab is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Mahtab as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 66.7% of Mahtab registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4991
2023
Births in 2023
3
Latest year
Peak year
2003
3 births
Estimated living
6
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Mahtab
In England and Wales birth records, Mahtab has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 66.7% of registrations are for boys and 33.3% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Mahtab registered for boys
- Ranked #4,991 in 2023
- 3 boys registered in 2023
- Peak: 2003 (3 births)
Mahtab registered for girls
- Ranked #5,785 in 2011
- 3 girls registered in 2011
- Peak: 2011 (3 births)
Meaning
What does Mahtab mean?
Mahtab is a Persian name with roots tracing back to the ancient Iranian languages. The name is derived from the Persian words "mah" meaning moon and "tab" meaning light or radiance, thus translating to "moonlight" or "light of the moon." This poetic name has been used for centuries in the Persian-speaking regions of the Middle East and Central Asia.
The earliest known historical reference to the name Mahtab can be found in Persian literature, particularly in the works of renowned poets such as Ferdowsi and Hafez, who lived during the 10th and 14th centuries respectively. These poets often used celestial imagery and references to the moon and stars in their romantic and mystical verses, making Mahtab a fitting name for individuals born under the glow of the moon.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Mahtab dates back to the 15th century, when a Persian princess named Mahtab Begum was born in the royal court of the Timurid Empire. Her name was a testament to her beauty and grace, likened to the radiance of the moon.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Mahtab. One such individual was Mahtab Rai Begum, a 17th-century Mughal princess and daughter of the influential nobleman Asaf Khan. Mahtab Rai Begum was renowned for her patronage of the arts and her role in the construction of the famous Taj Mahal in Agra, India.
Another historical figure with the name Mahtab was Mahtab Jahan Begum, a 16th-century Rajput princess who married the Mughal Emperor Akbar. She played a significant role in the affairs of the Mughal court and was known for her intelligence and political acumen.
In the realm of literature, Mahtab Nuri was a prominent 19th-century Persian poetess and calligrapher. Her work was celebrated for its lyrical beauty and its exploration of themes of love, spirituality, and the human condition.
Mahtab Khan, a 17th-century Mughal general and governor, was another notable bearer of the name. He served under the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and played a crucial role in the military campaigns of the Mughal Empire.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Mahtab over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Mahtab in England and Wales, from 2003 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Mahtab, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mahtab by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Mahtab 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 | #4991 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3467 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Mahtab
- 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
Mahtab: questions and answers
How popular is the name Mahtab in the UK right now?
In 2023, Mahtab was ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Mahtab most popular?
The peak year on record was 2003, with 3 babies registered as Mahtab in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Mahtab?
The feminine name Mahtab is of Persian origin, meaning "moon" or "moonlight.".
How many people are called Mahtab in the UK?
A total of 6 babies have been registered as Mahtab across the 2 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.