UK girl's name
Meera
A feminine Sanskrit name meaning "ocean" or "boundary-less".
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.
Meera is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Meera popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1036, with 33 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 49 births.
This profile covers 781 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 67% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 785 living people in the UK are called Meera. 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
- • Meera ranked #1036 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 33 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 49 girls were registered as Meera.
- • Meera ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #666 in 2010.
- • About 785 living people in the UK are estimated to have Meera as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1036
2024
Births in 2024
33
Latest year
Peak year
1997
49 births
Estimated living
785
2026
Meaning
What does Meera mean?
Meera is a feminine given name of Sanskrit origin, derived from the word "mira" meaning "oceanic" or "prosperous." This name has been in use in India for centuries, particularly in Hindu communities.
The name Meera gained widespread recognition due to its association with the 16th century Hindu mystic poet and devotee of Krishna, Meera Bai. Born in 1498 in Kudki, Rajasthan, Meera Bai composed numerous devotional poems and songs dedicated to Lord Krishna, which are still widely recited and celebrated in Hindu traditions.
In ancient Hindu texts, the name Meera is sometimes linked to the goddess Lakshmi, the embodiment of wealth, prosperity, and beauty. The name is believed to have auspicious connotations and is often chosen for its positive meanings.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Meera can be found in the 7th century Sanskrit text, the "Amarakosha," which mentions the name in the context of its meaning "oceanic" or "related to the sea."
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Meera. Among them are Meera Nair (1957-), an Indian-American filmmaker known for her films like "Monsoon Wedding" and "The Namesake," and Meera Syal (1961-), a British actress and writer of Indian descent, celebrated for her work in television and literature.
Another famous Meera was Meera Sahib (1866-1959), an Indian spiritual leader and poet who advocated for women's rights and social reform in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The name has also been associated with Meera Jasmine (1984-), an Indian actress who has appeared in numerous Malayalam and Tamil films.
Additionally, Meera Nandan (1944-2022) was an acclaimed Indian classical dancer and choreographer, known for her contributions to the Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi dance forms. These are just a few examples of the many prominent individuals who have carried the name Meera throughout history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Meera over time
The chart below shows babies named Meera 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 Meera, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 33 births in 2024, compared with 49 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Meera by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Meera 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 | #1027 | 168 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1201 | 293 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1373 | 181 | 10 |
| 1990s | #725 | 139 | 4 |
Geography
Where Meera is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Meera. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Meera ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #666 in 2010.
Across the UK
Meera in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#666 in 2010
2 years of NRS records, 8 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Meera
-
Meera Simhan
film actor; stage actor
British actress
2000-
-
Meera Syal
actor; screenwriter; writer; film producer; film actor; novelist; comedian; television producer; stage actor
English author and actress.
1961-
Related
Names similar to Meera
- 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
Meera: questions and answers
How popular is the name Meera in the UK right now?
In 2024, Meera was ranked #1036 for girls in England and Wales, with 33 births registered.
When was Meera most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 49 babies registered as Meera in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Meera?
A feminine Sanskrit name meaning "ocean" or "boundary-less".
How many people are called Meera in the UK?
A total of 781 babies have been registered as Meera across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 8 more in Scotland.
Where is Meera most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Meera ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #666 in 2010. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.