UK girl's name
Mija
Feminine name of Korean origin meaning "attractive child" or "beautiful sprout".
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.
Mija is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Mija popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 10 births.
This profile covers 87 England and Wales registrations across 17 recorded years from 2005 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 30% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 87 living people in the UK are called Mija. 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
- • Mija ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2010, when 10 girls were registered as Mija.
- • About 87 living people in the UK are estimated to have Mija as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5891
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2010
10 births
Estimated living
87
2026
Meaning
What does Mija mean?
The name Mija has its origins in several different languages and cultures, each with its own unique history and meaning. Firstly, in Polish, the name Mija is a diminutive form of Maria, which itself is derived from the Hebrew name Miryam. This Hebrew name is believed to have meant "beloved" or "loved by God."
In Russian, Mija (spelled Mиja) is also a diminutive form of the name Maria, reflecting the cultural influence of Eastern Orthodox Christianity in the region. Similarly, in Slovak, the name Mija is a pet form of the name Maria, which was widely adopted due to the spread of Christianity throughout Central Europe.
Another possible origin of the name Mija can be traced back to the Old Norse language, where the name Mía was a feminine form of the name Mjöll, meaning "snow" or "white." This name was used in ancient Scandinavian cultures and may have been influenced by the region's harsh winter climate.
Historically, one of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mija can be found in the Polish Chronicles of Gallus Anonymus, a 12th-century text that mentions a woman named Mija, the wife of a Polish nobleman. However, it is worth noting that this early reference is likely a diminutive form of the more common name Maria.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Mija, including Mija Martinson (1904-1944), a Swedish writer and poet who was known for her works exploring themes of loneliness and alienation. Another notable figure was Mija Isola (1927-2001), a Finnish textile designer best known for creating the iconic Marimekko poppy pattern.
In the realm of music, Mija (born 1990) is a Ukrainian-American electronic music producer and DJ, known for her innovative sound and collaborations with artists like Skrillex and Rezz. Additionally, Mija Milošević (born 1976) is a Serbian actress who has appeared in numerous films and television shows, both in her home country and internationally.
Lastly, Mija Nović (1935-2020) was a renowned Serbian painter and sculptor, celebrated for her abstract expressionist works that explored themes of nature, spirituality, and the human condition. Her vibrant and emotionally charged artworks have been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Mija over time
The chart below shows babies named Mija registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2005 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 Mija, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 10 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mija by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Mija 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 | #5749 | 9 | 3 |
| 2010s | #3915 | 58 | 10 |
| 2000s | #3795 | 20 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Mija
- 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
Mija: questions and answers
How popular is the name Mija in the UK right now?
In 2024, Mija was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Mija most popular?
The peak year on record was 2010, with 10 babies registered as Mija in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Mija?
Feminine name of Korean origin meaning "attractive child" or "beautiful sprout".
How many people are called Mija in the UK?
A total of 87 babies have been registered as Mija across the 17 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.