UK girl's name
Mirren
Anglicized form of an Irish Gaelic name derived from "muire", meaning "beloved" or "admired".
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.
Mirren is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Mirren popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3695, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2015, with 11 births.
This profile covers 170 England and Wales registrations across 27 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland 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 55% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 1,204 living people in the UK are called Mirren. 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
- • Mirren ranked #3695 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2015, when 11 girls were registered as Mirren.
- • Mirren ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #106 in 2024.
- • About 1,204 living people in the UK are estimated to have Mirren as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3695
2024
Births in 2024
6
Latest year
Peak year
2015
11 births
Estimated living
1,204
2026
Meaning
What does Mirren mean?
The name Mirren is derived from the Scottish Gaelic word "muirnin," which means "beloved." It originated in the Scottish Highlands and has been in use since the Middle Ages.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mirren dates back to the 13th century, when it was used as a feminine form of the masculine name Muireadach. The name was particularly popular among Scottish clans and families, such as the MacMurrens, who were known for their bravery and loyalty.
In the 16th century, the name Mirren gained prominence with the birth of Mirren Bruce, a Scottish noblewoman who played a significant role in the Scottish Reformation. She was a staunch supporter of the Protestant cause and is said to have sheltered the reformer John Knox during his time of exile.
Another notable figure with the name Mirren was Mirren McIlvaney, a Scottish Presbyterian minister who lived in the 17th century. He was known for his fiery sermons and his unwavering commitment to the principles of the Reformation.
In the 20th century, the name Mirren became more widely known thanks to the English actress Dame Helen Mirren, who was born in 1945. She has won numerous awards for her work on stage and screen, including an Academy Award for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in the 2006 film "The Queen."
Other notable individuals with the name Mirren include Mirren Mack, a Scottish artist and illustrator who was born in 1936 and is known for her vibrant and whimsical paintings. Mirren Barnet, a Scottish writer and poet who lived in the early 20th century, also made significant contributions to the literary world.
While the name Mirren is of Scottish origin, it has gained popularity in other parts of the world, particularly in English-speaking countries. Its connection to the beloved actress Dame Helen Mirren has undoubtedly contributed to its widespread recognition.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Mirren over time
The chart below shows babies named Mirren 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 Mirren, the clearest high point is 2015. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2024, compared with 11 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mirren by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Mirren 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 | #4395 | 24 | 5 |
| 2010s | #3285 | 58 | 8 |
| 2000s | #3265 | 57 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2071 | 31 | 4 |
Geography
Where Mirren is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Mirren. 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.
Mirren ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #106 in 2024.
Across the UK
Mirren in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#106 in 2024
29 years of NRS records, 1,034 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#391 in 2023
2 years of NISRA records, 6 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Mirren
-
Mirren Foy
ice hockey player
British ice hockey player
2004-
-
Mirren Summers
basketball player
Scottish basketball player (born 1996)
1996-
Related
Names similar to Mirren
- 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
Mirren: questions and answers
How popular is the name Mirren in the UK right now?
In 2024, Mirren was ranked #3695 for girls in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Mirren most popular?
The peak year on record was 2015, with 11 babies registered as Mirren in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Mirren?
Anglicized form of an Irish Gaelic name derived from "muire", meaning "beloved" or "admired".
How many people are called Mirren in the UK?
A total of 170 babies have been registered as Mirren across the 27 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 1,034 more in Scotland and 6 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Mirren most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Mirren ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #106 in 2024. 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.