UK boy's name
Mihir
A masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning 'sun' or 'sun rays'.
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.
Mihir is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Mihir popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3254, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 13 births.
This profile covers 196 England and Wales registrations across 27 recorded years from 1996 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 46% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 194 living people in the UK are called Mihir. 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
- • Mihir ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2003, when 13 boys were registered as Mihir.
- • About 194 living people in the UK are estimated to have Mihir as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3254
2024
Births in 2024
6
Latest year
Peak year
2003
13 births
Estimated living
194
2026
Meaning
What does Mihir mean?
The name Mihir has its origins in the Sanskrit language, which is one of the oldest languages in the world, dating back to around the 2nd millennium BCE. Mihir is derived from the Sanskrit word "Mihira," which means "sun" or "sun-god." This name was likely given to individuals with the hope that they would possess the strength, warmth, and life-giving qualities associated with the sun.
In ancient Hindu mythology, Mihira or Mitra was the name given to the Sun God, who was revered as the bringer of light, warmth, and fertility. The name appears in various Hindu scriptures, such as the Vedas and the Upanishads, which are among the oldest religious texts in the world, dating back to around 1500 BCE.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mihir can be found in the Rigveda, which is a collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns composed around 1500-1200 BCE. In the Rigveda, there are several hymns dedicated to the Sun God, Mitra or Mihira, highlighting the importance of this deity in ancient Hindu culture.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Mihir. One of the most famous was Mihir Bhoja, a renowned Indian king and scholar who ruled the Malwa region of central India in the 11th century CE. He was known for his patronage of the arts, literature, and astronomy, and his court was a center of learning and cultural exchange.
Another significant figure was Mihir Sen, a 12th-century Bengali poet and scholar who is credited with writing the first Bengali translation of the Hindu epic, the Ramayana. His work played a crucial role in the development of Bengali literature and the preservation of the region's cultural heritage.
In the realm of astronomy, Mihir Chand Mehta, an Indian astronomer who lived in the 17th century, made significant contributions to the study of celestial bodies and the measurement of time. He is particularly renowned for his work on the Jantar Mantar, a collection of architectural astronomical instruments built in several cities across India.
Mihir Kanti Bose, a 19th-century Indian revolutionary and freedom fighter, played a pivotal role in the Indian independence movement against British colonial rule. He was a member of the Anushilan Samiti, a revolutionary organization dedicated to achieving India's independence through armed struggle.
Finally, Mihir Desai, an Indian legal scholar and human rights activist, has made significant contributions to the field of international law and the promotion of human rights. He has served as a Special Rapporteur for the United Nations and has written extensively on issues related to human rights, international law, and sustainable development.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Mihir over time
The chart below shows babies named Mihir 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 Mihir, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2024, compared with 13 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mihir by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Mihir 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 | #4218 | 20 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2603 | 64 | 8 |
| 2000s | #1991 | 85 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1795 | 27 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Mihir
- 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
Mihir: questions and answers
How popular is the name Mihir in the UK right now?
In 2024, Mihir was ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Mihir most popular?
The peak year on record was 2003, with 13 babies registered as Mihir in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Mihir?
A masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning 'sun' or 'sun rays'.
How many people are called Mihir in the UK?
A total of 196 babies have been registered as Mihir across the 27 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.