UK name, mostly girls
Miren
A feminine name of Basque origin meaning "admired one" or "beloved one".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2016. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Also recorded as a boys' name in the UK, with 15 boys.
Miren is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Miren popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2016 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4763, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 4 births.
This profile covers 17 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 1996 to 2016. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 26 living people in the UK are called Miren. 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 2017 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Miren ranked #4763 for girls in England and Wales in 2016, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2004, when 4 girls were registered as Miren.
- • Miren ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #579 in 2011.
- • Miren is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 26 living people in the UK are estimated to have Miren as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 53.1% of Miren registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4763
2016
Births in 2016
4
Latest year
Peak year
2004
4 births
Estimated living
26
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Miren
In England and Wales birth records, Miren has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 46.9% of registrations are for boys and 53.1% 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.
Miren registered for boys
- Ranked #3,848 in 2020
- 4 boys registered in 2020
- Peak: 1997 (5 births)
Miren registered for girls
- Ranked #4,763 in 2016
- 4 girls registered in 2016
- Peak: 2004 (4 births)
Meaning
What does Miren mean?
The name Miren originated from the Basque region, spanning parts of northern Spain and southwestern France. It is derived from the Basque word "miren," which means "admiration" or "wonder." This name dates back to the early Middle Ages, around the 8th to 10th centuries, when the Basque language and culture were more widespread in the region.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Miren can be found in the medieval Basque literary work "Euskal Hiztegi Zaharra" (Old Basque Dictionary), dated around the 11th century. This text includes various Basque names and their meanings, with Miren being listed as a feminine name representing admiration or wonder.
In the 12th century, a notable figure named Miren of Navarre (c. 1135 - 1196) was a Basque noblewoman and the Queen consort of Navarre through her marriage to King Sancho VI of Navarre. She played a significant role in the political affairs of the Kingdom of Navarre during her time.
Another historical reference to the name Miren can be found in the 16th century work "Refranes y Sentencias" (Proverbs and Sentences) by the Basque writer and scholar Sancho de Munión. In this compilation of Basque proverbs and sayings, the name Miren is mentioned in several instances, indicating its continued usage and recognition within Basque culture.
Miren Ibarguren (1854 - 1932) was a prominent Basque writer and poet from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She is considered one of the most influential figures in the revival and promotion of Basque literature and language during her time.
In the realm of art, Miren Alvarez (1922 - 2017) was a renowned Basque sculptor and painter known for her abstract and experimental works. Her pieces have been exhibited in various galleries and museums across Spain and beyond.
Miren Arzak (born 1942) is a celebrated Basque chef and restaurateur who has been instrumental in introducing and promoting Basque cuisine on a global scale. Her restaurant, Arzak, located in San Sebastián, Spain, has been awarded three Michelin stars and is widely regarded as one of the best restaurants in the world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Miren over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Miren in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Miren, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2016, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Miren by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Miren 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 | #5320 | 7 | 2 |
| 2000s | #3725 | 4 | 1 |
| 1990s | #3848 | 6 | 2 |
Geography
Where Miren is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Miren. 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.
Miren ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #579 in 2011.
Across the UK
Miren in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#579 in 2011
2 years of NRS records, 9 total registered
Related
Names similar to Miren
- 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
Miren: questions and answers
How popular is the name Miren in the UK right now?
In 2016, Miren was ranked #4763 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Miren most popular?
The peak year on record was 2004, with 4 babies registered as Miren in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Miren?
A feminine name of Basque origin meaning "admired one" or "beloved one".
How many people are called Miren in the UK?
A total of 17 babies have been registered as Miren across the 5 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 9 more in Scotland.
Where is Miren most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Miren ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #579 in 2011. 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.