UK girl's name
Taira
Of Japanese origin, meaning "prosperous" or "abundant field".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2011. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Taira is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Taira popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2011 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5785, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 3 births.
This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2010 to 2011. 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Taira. 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 2012 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Taira ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales in 2011, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2010, when 3 girls were registered as Taira.
- • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Taira as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5785
2011
Births in 2011
3
Latest year
Peak year
2010
3 births
Estimated living
6
2026
Meaning
What does Taira mean?
The name Taira has its origins in Japanese culture and dates back to the Heian period (794-1185 AD). It is believed to be derived from the Old Japanese word "tai," which means "thick" or "substantial," and the suffix "-ra," which was commonly used to form surnames or clan names.
Taira was the name of a powerful samurai clan that rose to prominence during the late Heian period. The most famous member of this clan was Taira no Kiyomori (1118-1181), who served as the de facto ruler of Japan for several years and played a significant role in the Gempei War against the Minamoto clan.
Another notable historical figure with the name Taira was Taira no Munemori (1147-1185), the son of Kiyomori and a skilled military commander. He led the Taira forces in the Gempei War but was eventually defeated by the Minamoto clan at the Battle of Dan-no-ura in 1185.
Taira no Yasuyori (1155-1186) was another member of the Taira clan who fought in the Gempei War. He was known for his bravery and loyalty to his clan, and he died in battle defending the Taira cause.
Outside of Japan, the name Taira has been used by individuals of Japanese descent, such as Taira Hikozo (1902-1986), a Japanese-American artist and sculptor who was active in the early 20th century.
Taira Sigesuke (1935-2019) was a Japanese politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan from 1986 to 1988.
While the name Taira has its roots in ancient Japanese history, it has been used by individuals from various backgrounds and time periods, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and historical significance of this name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Taira over time
The chart below shows babies named Taira registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2010 to 2011. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Taira, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2011, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Taira by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Taira 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5746 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Taira
- Tia 15,569
- Thea 12,888
- Tilly 11,524
- Taylor 7,401
- Tegan 6,583
- Tabitha 6,462
- Talia 5,198
- Tara 5,114
- Tiffany 4,653
- Tallulah 4,442
- Tiana 3,570
- Tamara 3,405
FAQ
Taira: questions and answers
How popular is the name Taira in the UK right now?
In 2011, Taira was ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Taira most popular?
The peak year on record was 2010, with 3 babies registered as Taira in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Taira?
Of Japanese origin, meaning "prosperous" or "abundant field".
How many people are called Taira in the UK?
A total of 6 babies have been registered as Taira across the 2 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.