NameCensus.

UK name, mostly girls

Miki

A feminine Japanese name, often used as a diminutive of Mikiko.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Miki is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Miki popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5581, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 6 births.

This profile covers 45 England and Wales registrations across 12 recorded years from 1996 to 2021. 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 45 living people in the UK are called Miki. 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 2022 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Miki ranked #5581 for girls in England and Wales in 2021, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2006, when 6 girls were registered as Miki.
  • About 45 living people in the UK are estimated to have Miki as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 86.5% of Miki registrations are for girls.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5581

2021

Births in 2021

3

Latest year

Peak year

2006

6 births

Estimated living

45

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Miki

In England and Wales birth records, Miki has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 13.5% of registrations are for boys and 86.5% 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.

13% boys
87% girls
Boys7 (13.5%)Girls45 (86.5%)

Miki registered for boys

  • Ranked #3,687 in 2008
  • 4 boys registered in 2008
  • Peak: 2008 (4 births)

Miki registered for girls

  • Ranked #5,581 in 2021
  • 3 girls registered in 2021
  • Peak: 2006 (6 births)

Meaning

What does Miki mean?

The name Miki originated in Japan, where it has been used as a feminine given name for centuries. It is derived from the Japanese word "miki," which means "beautiful and radiant." The name first appeared in written records as early as the 8th century AD, during the Nara period of Japanese history.

One of the earliest known historical figures with the name Miki was Miki no Tama, a renowned Japanese poet who lived during the Heian period (794-1185 AD). Her poetry was included in the famous imperial anthology called the "Goshui Wakashu," which was compiled in the late 10th century.

In the 12th century, there was a Japanese Buddhist nun named Miki Shonin, who was known for her spiritual teachings and her efforts to promote women's education and empowerment. She is revered in some Buddhist traditions as a bodhisattva, or enlightened being.

During the Edo period (1603-1868), a notable figure named Miki Sakyoku lived in the city of Edo (now Tokyo). She was a skilled musician and composer who helped popularize the traditional Japanese genre of music known as "jiuta."

Another historical figure named Miki was Miki Rokusaburo, a Japanese samurai who lived during the late Tokugawa shogunate (1603-1868). He was known for his loyalty and bravery in battle, and his exploits were recorded in various chronicles of the time.

In more recent history, one of the most famous people with the name Miki was Miki Matsu, a Japanese actress and singer who was active in the 1960s and 1970s. She appeared in numerous films and television shows, and her music was popular throughout Japan and other parts of Asia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Miki over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Miki in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Miki, the clearest high point is 2006. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2021, compared with 6 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
02457199620082021

Decades

Miki by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Miki 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 #5581 3 1
2010s #4864 8 2
2000s #4583 25 7
1990s #2932 9 2

Related

Names similar to Miki

FAQ

Miki: questions and answers

How popular is the name Miki in the UK right now?

In 2021, Miki was ranked #5581 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Miki most popular?

The peak year on record was 2006, with 6 babies registered as Miki in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Miki?

A feminine Japanese name, often used as a diminutive of Mikiko.

How many people are called Miki in the UK?

A total of 45 babies have been registered as Miki across the 12 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.