UK girl's name
Mawa
A feminine name of Punjabi origin meaning "a breeze".
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.
Mawa is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Mawa popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5687, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2018, with 5 births.
This profile covers 35 England and Wales registrations across 10 recorded years from 2006 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 35 living people in the UK are called Mawa. 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
- • Mawa ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2018, when 5 girls were registered as Mawa.
- • About 35 living people in the UK are estimated to have Mawa as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5687
2023
Births in 2023
3
Latest year
Peak year
2018
5 births
Estimated living
35
2026
Meaning
What does Mawa mean?
The name Mawa is thought to have originated from the Sanskrit language, which is an ancient Indo-Aryan language that dates back to the 2nd millennium BCE. It is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word "mava," which means "mother" or "maternal aunt." This suggests that the name Mawa may have been initially used to honor or pay respect to maternal figures.
In ancient Hindu texts, such as the Vedas and Upanishads, the word "mava" is mentioned in various contexts, often referring to the maternal lineage or the bond between a mother and child. However, the specific name Mawa is not explicitly mentioned in these ancient texts, indicating that its usage as a personal name may have emerged later.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Mawa can be traced back to the medieval period in India. One notable figure from this time was Mawa Devi, a renowned Sanskrit scholar and poet who lived in the 12th century CE. She was widely celebrated for her literary works and contributions to the preservation of Sanskrit literature.
Another historical figure with the name Mawa was Mawa Begum, a prominent figure in the Mughal Empire during the 16th century. She was a noblewoman and the wife of the Mughal prince Salim, who later became Emperor Jahangir. Mawa Begum played an influential role in the imperial court and is known for her patronage of the arts and architecture.
In the 19th century, Mawa Sundari was a celebrated Indian courtesan and poet from the city of Lucknow. She was renowned for her exceptional beauty, wit, and literary talents, and her poetry continues to be celebrated in Urdu literature.
Mawa Lal was an Indian freedom fighter and social reformer who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was a prominent figure in the Indian independence movement and worked tirelessly to promote education and social upliftment, particularly for women and underprivileged communities.
In the field of music, Mawa Maharjan was a renowned Nepali folk singer and songwriter from the 20th century. She was celebrated for her captivating voice and her contributions to preserving and popularizing traditional Nepali folk music.
While the name Mawa has its roots in ancient Sanskrit and Indian culture, it has gained recognition and popularity across various regions and communities over time. Its association with maternal figures and its historical significance have contributed to its enduring appeal as a personal name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Mawa over time
The chart below shows babies named Mawa registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2006 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 Mawa, the clearest high point is 2018. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mawa by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Mawa 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 | #5304 | 10 | 3 |
| 2010s | #5279 | 21 | 6 |
| 2000s | #4157 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Mawa
- Megan 70,884
- Mia 67,204
- Molly 47,734
- Millie 44,390
- Maisie 32,671
- Matilda 29,965
- Maya 26,445
- Madison 18,441
- Maria 17,304
- Mollie 15,914
- Martha 15,116
- Maddison 14,918
FAQ
Mawa: questions and answers
How popular is the name Mawa in the UK right now?
In 2023, Mawa was ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Mawa most popular?
The peak year on record was 2018, with 5 babies registered as Mawa in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Mawa?
A feminine name of Punjabi origin meaning "a breeze".
How many people are called Mawa in the UK?
A total of 35 babies have been registered as Mawa across the 10 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.