UK name, mostly girls
Meerab
A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "prosperous" or "flourishing".
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.
Meerab is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Meerab popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #980, with 36 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 36 births.
This profile covers 423 England and Wales registrations across 21 recorded years from 2004 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 428 living people in the UK are called Meerab. 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
- • Meerab ranked #980 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 36 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2016, when 36 girls were registered as Meerab.
- • Meerab ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #809 in 2018.
- • About 428 living people in the UK are estimated to have Meerab as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 99.3% of Meerab registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#980
2024
Births in 2024
36
Latest year
Peak year
2016
36 births
Estimated living
428
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Meerab
In England and Wales birth records, Meerab has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 0.7% of registrations are for boys and 99.3% 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.
Meerab registered for boys
- Ranked #4,608 in 2020
- 3 boys registered in 2020
- Peak: 2020 (3 births)
Meerab registered for girls
- Ranked #980 in 2024
- 36 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2016 (36 births)
Meaning
What does Meerab mean?
The name Meerab has its origins in the Persian language, tracing back to ancient Persia, now known as Iran. It is derived from the Old Persian word "mihr," which means "love" or "friendship." The name carries a connotation of kindness, affection, and warmth.
In ancient Persian mythology, Mithra, the god of light and truth, was associated with the concept of "mihr." This divine connection suggests that the name Meerab may have been bestowed upon individuals with the hope of imbuing them with qualities of radiance, honesty, and goodwill.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Meerab can be found in Persian literature and historical records dating back to the 7th century AD. During the Islamic Golden Age, which spanned from the 8th to the 13th centuries, several scholars and intellectuals bore the name Meerab.
One of the most notable individuals with this name was Meerab Ispahani, a renowned Persian poet who lived in the 12th century. His works, characterized by their lyrical beauty and profound insights, have left a lasting impact on Persian literary tradition.
In the 14th century, Meerab al-Din Mahmud, a Persian mathematician and astronomer, made significant contributions to the fields of mathematics and celestial mechanics. His treatises on trigonometry and astronomical observations were highly regarded during his time.
Another prominent figure was Meerab Khan, a 17th-century military commander and governor in the Mughal Empire. He was celebrated for his strategic prowess and played a crucial role in expanding the empire's territories.
During the 19th century, Meerab Ali Khan, a Persian-Indian nobleman and politician, served as the Nawab of Bengal. His reign was marked by efforts to modernize the region and promote education.
Throughout history, the name Meerab has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, poets, warriors, and leaders. While its precise origins are rooted in ancient Persia, the name has transcended cultural boundaries and gained recognition across different regions and eras.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Meerab over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Meerab in England and Wales, from 2004 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 Meerab, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 36 births in 2024, compared with 36 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Meerab by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Meerab 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 | #1603 | 120 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1410 | 241 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2566 | 62 | 6 |
Geography
Where Meerab is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Meerab. 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.
Meerab ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #809 in 2018.
Across the UK
Meerab in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#809 in 2018
2 years of NRS records, 7 total registered
Related
Names similar to Meerab
- 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
Meerab: questions and answers
How popular is the name Meerab in the UK right now?
In 2024, Meerab was ranked #980 for girls in England and Wales, with 36 births registered.
When was Meerab most popular?
The peak year on record was 2016, with 36 babies registered as Meerab in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Meerab?
A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "prosperous" or "flourishing".
How many people are called Meerab in the UK?
A total of 423 babies have been registered as Meerab across the 21 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 7 more in Scotland.
Where is Meerab most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Meerab ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #809 in 2018. 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.