NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Munira

A feminine Arabic name meaning "luminous" or "enlightened one".

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.

Munira is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Munira popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2574, with 10 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 27 births.

This profile covers 433 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 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 37% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 431 living people in the UK are called Munira. 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

  • Munira ranked #2574 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 10 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2007, when 27 girls were registered as Munira.
  • About 431 living people in the UK are estimated to have Munira as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2574

2024

Births in 2024

10

Latest year

Peak year

2007

27 births

Estimated living

431

2026

Meaning

What does Munira mean?

The name Munira has its roots in the Arabic language and is believed to have originated in the Middle East. It is derived from the Arabic word "nur," which means "light" or "illumination." The name is often associated with beauty, radiance, and enlightenment.

Munira was a popular name among Muslim communities in the medieval period, particularly in regions where Arabic influence was strong, such as the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Europe. The name can be found in various historical texts and records from that era, including poetry and literature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Munira comes from the 8th century, when a renowned Arab poet named Munira bint Al-Mutalammis lived. She was highly regarded for her literary talents and is considered one of the most influential female poets of the Abbasid era.

Another notable figure with the name Munira was Munira Al-Qubaysiyya, a 9th-century Arab singer and musician from Baghdad. She was renowned for her exceptional vocal talents and was a celebrated performer in the court of the Abbasid Caliphs.

In the 10th century, Munira bint al-Mu'tazz, a member of the Abbasid royal family, was known for her literary and poetic skills. She was highly educated and played an influential role in the cultural and intellectual life of the Abbasid court.

During the 12th century, Munira bint Al-Hasan Al-Nabulusi was a renowned scholar and poet from Damascus. She was highly respected for her knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence and literature and contributed significantly to the intellectual and cultural landscape of the region.

In the 19th century, Munira Thabit was a prominent Syrian writer and feminist activist. She was a pioneer in advocating for women's rights and education in the Arab world and played a significant role in the intellectual and social movements of her time.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Munira. The name has continued to be popular in various parts of the world, particularly in regions with significant Arab or Islamic cultural influence.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Munira over time

The chart below shows babies named Munira 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 Munira, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 10 births in 2024, compared with 27 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Munira
07142027199620102024

Decades

Munira by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Munira 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 #2568 49 5
2010s #1753 173 10
2000s #1350 180 10
1990s #2483 31 4

Related

Names similar to Munira

FAQ

Munira: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Munira was ranked #2574 for girls in England and Wales, with 10 births registered.

When was Munira most popular?

The peak year on record was 2007, with 27 babies registered as Munira in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Munira?

A feminine Arabic name meaning "luminous" or "enlightened one".

How many people are called Munira in the UK?

A total of 433 babies have been registered as Munira across the 29 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.