UK name, mostly boys
Mehtaab
A name of Urdu origin meaning "moonlight" or "moon-like radiance".
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.
Mehtaab is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Mehtaab popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2921, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 9 births.
This profile covers 47 England and Wales registrations across 9 recorded years from 2010 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.
The latest count is about 78% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 47 living people in the UK are called Mehtaab. 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
- • Mehtaab ranked #2921 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 7 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2023, when 9 boys were registered as Mehtaab.
- • About 47 living people in the UK are estimated to have Mehtaab as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 94.0% of Mehtaab registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2921
2024
Births in 2024
7
Latest year
Peak year
2023
9 births
Estimated living
47
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Mehtaab
In England and Wales birth records, Mehtaab has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 94.0% of registrations are for boys and 6.0% 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.
Mehtaab registered for boys
- Ranked #2,921 in 2024
- 7 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2023 (9 births)
Mehtaab registered for girls
- Ranked #5,061 in 2006
- 3 girls registered in 2006
- Peak: 2006 (3 births)
Meaning
What does Mehtaab mean?
The name Mehtaab originates from the Persian language and has its roots in ancient Iran. It is a compound word derived from the Persian words "meh" meaning moon and "taab" meaning radiance or glow, thus translating to "moonlight" or "the glow of the moon."
The name Mehtaab can be traced back to the classical Persian literature of the 10th to 12th centuries, where it was often used as a poetic metaphor to describe the beauty and radiance of a beloved or a romantic interest. Persian poets like Ferdowsi, Saadi, and Hafez frequently employed the term in their works, cementing its place in the rich literary tradition of the region.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mehtaab can be found in the 12th-century Persian epic poem, the Shahnameh, written by the renowned poet Ferdowsi. In this literary masterpiece, Mehtaab is mentioned as the name of a beautiful princess, reflecting the name's association with lunar beauty and grace.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Mehtaab. One such figure was Mehtaab Begum (1582-1604), a Mughal princess and the daughter of Emperor Akbar. Another prominent bearer of the name was Mehtaab Ali Khan (1638-1707), a Mughal nobleman and military commander who served under Emperor Aurangzeb.
In more recent times, Mehtaab Haji (1923-2008) was an Indian actress and dancer who appeared in several Hindi films during the mid-20th century. Mehtaab Chima (born 1971) is a Pakistani cricketer who played for the national team in the 1990s.
Mehtaab Alampurwala (born 1988) is an Indian model and actress known for her work in television and films. She has been a prominent figure in the Indian entertainment industry, further popularizing the name in modern times.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Mehtaab over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Mehtaab in England and Wales, from 2006 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 Mehtaab, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2024, compared with 9 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mehtaab by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Mehtaab 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 | #2775 | 29 | 4 |
| 2010s | #4299 | 18 | 5 |
Related
Names similar to Mehtaab
- 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
Mehtaab: questions and answers
How popular is the name Mehtaab in the UK right now?
In 2024, Mehtaab was ranked #2921 for boys in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.
When was Mehtaab most popular?
The peak year on record was 2023, with 9 babies registered as Mehtaab in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Mehtaab?
A name of Urdu origin meaning "moonlight" or "moon-like radiance".
How many people are called Mehtaab in the UK?
A total of 47 babies have been registered as Mehtaab across the 9 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.