UK girl's name
Munirah
An Arabic feminine name meaning "brilliant", "luminous", or "enlightened".
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.
Munirah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Munirah 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 2002, with 6 births.
This profile covers 33 England and Wales registrations across 9 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 33 living people in the UK are called Munirah. 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
- • Munirah ranked #5581 for girls in England and Wales in 2021, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2002, when 6 girls were registered as Munirah.
- • About 33 living people in the UK are estimated to have Munirah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5581
2021
Births in 2021
3
Latest year
Peak year
2002
6 births
Estimated living
33
2026
Meaning
What does Munirah mean?
The name Munirah has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic root word "nur," which means "light" or "illumination." The name Munirah can be translated to mean "the illuminated one" or "the enlightened one."
The name Munirah is believed to have been in use since the early days of Islam, as it is found in historical records and Islamic literature. It is mentioned in the Hadith, which is a collection of the sayings and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. In one of the Hadith, the Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said, "The best names in the sight of Allah are Abdullah and Abdur-Rahman, and the most truthful names are Harith and Humam, and the most beautiful names for women are Munirah and Ghadeer."
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Munirah is found in the 7th century, when it was used by a woman named Munirah bint Amr, who was a companion of the Prophet Muhammad. She is known for her piety and her contributions to the spread of Islam.
Throughout history, there have been several notable women named Munirah. One of the most famous is Munirah al-Qurashiyah, a 9th-century poet and scholar from Baghdad. She was known for her mastery of Arabic literature and her contributions to the field of poetry. Another notable figure is Munirah al-Baghdadiyah, a 10th-century scholar and teacher from Baghdad, who was renowned for her knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence and Hadith.
In the 12th century, there was Munirah al-Andalusiyah, a Spanish-born Muslim scholar and poet who lived in Cordoba, Spain. She was known for her expertise in Arabic literature and her contributions to the intellectual life of Andalusia.
Another notable figure is Munirah al-Ghassaniyah, a 13th-century princess from the Ghassanid dynasty in Syria. She was known for her patronage of the arts and her support of scholars and poets.
In more recent times, there is Munirah Khanum, a 19th-century Afghan princess and poet who was known for her contributions to Afghan literature and her support of women's education.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Munirah over time
The chart below shows babies named Munirah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, 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 Munirah, the clearest high point is 2002. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2021, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Munirah by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Munirah 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 | #4739 | 4 | 1 |
| 2000s | #4243 | 19 | 5 |
| 1990s | #3475 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Munirah
- 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
Munirah: questions and answers
How popular is the name Munirah in the UK right now?
In 2021, Munirah was ranked #5581 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Munirah most popular?
The peak year on record was 2002, with 6 babies registered as Munirah in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Munirah?
An Arabic feminine name meaning "brilliant", "luminous", or "enlightened".
How many people are called Munirah in the UK?
A total of 33 babies have been registered as Munirah across the 9 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.