NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Tahira

An Arabic feminine name meaning "pure" or "virtuous".

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.

Tahira is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Tahira popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2411, with 11 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 26 births.

This profile covers 467 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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 42% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 467 living people in the UK are called Tahira. 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

  • Tahira ranked #2411 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 11 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2007, when 26 girls were registered as Tahira.
  • Tahira ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #497 in 1975.
  • About 467 living people in the UK are estimated to have Tahira as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2411

2024

Births in 2024

11

Latest year

Peak year

2007

26 births

Estimated living

467

2026

Meaning

What does Tahira mean?

The name Tahira is of Arabic origin and has its roots in the word "taher," which means "pure" or "virtuous." It is believed to have emerged in the 7th century during the early days of Islam, as the religion placed a strong emphasis on purity and righteousness.

Tahira was a name commonly used in the Arabian Peninsula and surrounding regions during the medieval period. It gained popularity among Muslim communities as a name that embodied the values of piety and moral excellence.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Tahira can be found in the works of renowned Islamic scholars and historians from the 8th and 9th centuries. These writings often referred to pious women and female companions of the Prophet Muhammad with the name Tahira, highlighting their virtuous character.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Tahira. One of the most prominent was Tahira Qaddusi (1938-2022), a renowned Palestinian poet and writer known for her powerful literary works that explored themes of identity, resistance, and the Palestinian struggle.

Another influential figure was Tahira Sultana (1735-1800), a skilled military commander and leader from the Sultanate of Mysore in India. She played a crucial role in the Kingdom's resistance against British colonial rule and is celebrated for her bravery and leadership.

In the realm of science, Tahira Noor (born 1974) is a prominent Pakistani astrophysicist and the first woman from her country to earn a PhD in astrophysics. Her research has contributed significantly to the understanding of galaxy formation and evolution.

Tahira Mazhar Ali Khan (1892-1957) was a pioneering Pakistani educator and social reformer who advocated for women's education and empowerment. She founded several educational institutions and played a pivotal role in advancing women's rights in the region.

Lastly, Tahira Kashyap Khurrana (born 1983) is a contemporary Indian film director, writer, and actor. Her directorial debut, "Sharmaji Ki Bitti," received critical acclaim for its portrayal of modern Indian women and their challenges.

These are just a few examples of remarkable individuals who have carried the name Tahira throughout history, each leaving an indelible mark in their respective fields and embodying the virtues associated with the name's meaning.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Tahira over time

The chart below shows babies named Tahira 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 Tahira, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 11 births in 2024, compared with 26 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Tahira
07132026199620102024

Decades

Tahira by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Tahira 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 #2634 47 5
2010s #1857 162 10
2000s #1266 198 10
1990s #1263 60 4

Geography

Where Tahira is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Tahira. 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.

Tahira ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #497 in 1975.

Scotland
3

Across the UK

Tahira in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#497 in 1975

1 years of NRS records, 3 total registered

Related

Names similar to Tahira

FAQ

Tahira: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Tahira was ranked #2411 for girls in England and Wales, with 11 births registered.

When was Tahira most popular?

The peak year on record was 2007, with 26 babies registered as Tahira in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Tahira?

An Arabic feminine name meaning "pure" or "virtuous".

How many people are called Tahira in the UK?

A total of 467 babies have been registered as Tahira across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 3 more in Scotland.

Where is Tahira most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Tahira ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #497 in 1975. 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.