UK name, mostly girls
Meher
Sun or sunlight, an Indian name of Persian origin.
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.
Meher is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Meher popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1198, with 28 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 28 births.
This profile covers 291 England and Wales registrations across 22 recorded years from 1999 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.
Meher is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 290 living people in the UK are called Meher. 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
- • Meher ranked #1198 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 28 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2024, when 28 girls were registered as Meher.
- • About 290 living people in the UK are estimated to have Meher as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 96.7% of Meher registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1198
2024
Births in 2024
28
Latest year
Peak year
2024
28 births
Estimated living
290
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Meher
In England and Wales birth records, Meher has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 3.3% of registrations are for boys and 96.7% 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.
Meher registered for boys
- Ranked #4,023 in 2016
- 4 boys registered in 2016
- Peak: 2016 (4 births)
Meher registered for girls
- Ranked #1,198 in 2024
- 28 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2024 (28 births)
Meaning
What does Meher mean?
The name Meher is derived from the Persian language and has its origins in ancient Persia (modern-day Iran). It is believed to have emerged during the Achaemenid Empire, which ruled from around 550 BC to 330 BC. The name is thought to be derived from the Persian word "Mehr," meaning "sun," "light," or "love."
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Meher can be found in the ancient Zoroastrian religious text, the Avesta. In the Avesta, Mehr (or Mithra) is a prominent deity associated with the sun, truth, and justice. This suggests that the name has deep roots in Persian mythology and culture.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Meher. One of the earliest was Meher Banu Begum (1593-1615), a Mughal princess and the daughter of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. Another historical figure was Meher Ali Khan (1757-1834), a prominent military leader and statesman in the Maratha Empire.
In the 19th century, Meher Ali Qajar (1842-1907) was a Persian prince and a member of the Qajar dynasty. He served as the governor of several provinces in Persia and was known for his patronage of the arts and literature.
More recently, Meher Baba (1894-1969) was a renowned Indian spiritual master and philosopher who advocated for a life of love, peace, and understanding. Despite his fame, he observed a vow of silence for the last 44 years of his life, communicating primarily through an alphabet board and hand gestures.
Another notable figure was Meher Singh Gill (1899-1989), an Indian politician and freedom fighter who played a significant role in the Indian independence movement. He served as a member of the Constituent Assembly of India and held various ministerial positions in the government.
Throughout its history, the name Meher has carried connotations of light, love, and spiritual enlightenment, reflecting its Persian origins and associations with ancient Zoroastrian mythology. While its popularity has ebbed and flowed over time, it remains a culturally significant name with deep roots in the history and traditions of the Persian world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Meher over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Meher in England and Wales, from 1999 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 Meher, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 28 births in 2024, compared with 28 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Meher by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Meher 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 | #1562 | 102 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1899 | 155 | 10 |
| 2000s | #3706 | 30 | 6 |
| 1990s | #3225 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Meher
- 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
Meher: questions and answers
How popular is the name Meher in the UK right now?
In 2024, Meher was ranked #1198 for girls in England and Wales, with 28 births registered.
When was Meher most popular?
The peak year on record was 2024, with 28 babies registered as Meher in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Meher?
Sun or sunlight, an Indian name of Persian origin.
How many people are called Meher in the UK?
A total of 291 babies have been registered as Meher across the 22 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.