UK girl's name
Meia
A feminine Portuguese name meaning "stocking" or "half".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2017. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Meia is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Meia popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2017 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5765, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 5 births.
This profile covers 18 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 2010 to 2017. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 21 living people in the UK are called Meia. 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 2018 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Meia ranked #5765 for girls in England and Wales in 2017, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2010, when 5 girls were registered as Meia.
- • Meia ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #440 in 2013.
- • About 21 living people in the UK are estimated to have Meia as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5765
2017
Births in 2017
3
Latest year
Peak year
2010
5 births
Estimated living
21
2026
Meaning
What does Meia mean?
The name Meia is derived from the Portuguese language and has its roots dating back to the 15th century. It is believed to be a feminine form of the name Meio, which means "middle" or "center" in Portuguese. The name Meia is thought to have originated in Portugal and was likely used to refer to someone who lived in a central location or a midpoint between two places.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Meia can be found in the writings of Portuguese poet Luís Vaz de Camões, who lived from 1524 to 1580. In his epic poem "Os Lusíadas," Camões mentions a character named Meia, suggesting that the name was in use during the Renaissance period in Portugal.
During the Age of Discovery, when Portuguese explorers and sailors ventured across the globe, the name Meia may have been carried to various parts of the world. However, there are no definitive historical records of notable individuals bearing this name until the 19th century.
One of the earliest famous individuals with the name Meia was Meia de Albuquerque (1808-1892), a Brazilian writer and journalist who played a significant role in the abolitionist movement in Brazil. She was a vocal advocate for the abolition of slavery and used her writing to raise awareness about the cause.
Another notable figure was Meia Pires (1844-1910), a Portuguese painter and sculptor whose works were exhibited in Paris and other European cities. Her paintings often depicted scenes from Portuguese rural life and captured the essence of her homeland's landscapes.
In the 20th century, Meia Curado (1920-1981) was a renowned Portuguese fado singer who helped popularize the traditional Portuguese music genre globally. Her powerful voice and emotive performances earned her widespread acclaim and contributed to the preservation of fado as a cultural heritage.
Meia Rego (1932-2007) was a Brazilian actress and writer who appeared in numerous films and television shows throughout her career. She was known for her versatility and talent, often portraying strong, independent women in her roles.
Meia Ferreira (1946-2018) was a Portuguese writer and journalist who worked tirelessly to promote women's rights and gender equality. Her books and articles shed light on the struggles and experiences of women in Portuguese society, making her a influential voice in the feminist movement.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Meia, highlighting its rich cultural heritage and the diverse backgrounds of those who have carried this name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Meia over time
The chart below shows babies named Meia registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2010 to 2017. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Meia, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2017, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Meia by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Meia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5235 | 18 | 5 |
Geography
Where Meia is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Meia. 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.
Meia ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #440 in 2013.
Across the UK
Meia in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#440 in 2013
1 years of NISRA records, 3 total registered
Related
Names similar to Meia
- 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
Meia: questions and answers
How popular is the name Meia in the UK right now?
In 2017, Meia was ranked #5765 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Meia most popular?
The peak year on record was 2010, with 5 babies registered as Meia in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Meia?
A feminine Portuguese name meaning "stocking" or "half".
How many people are called Meia in the UK?
A total of 18 babies have been registered as Meia across the 5 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here and 3 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Meia most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Meia ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #440 in 2013. 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.