NameCensus.

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

Mirren
036811199620102024

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.

Scotland
41
Northern Ireland
3

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

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.