Declining since 2020, #6,325 for girls today.
Popularity of Mehr since 2000
Babies named Mehr per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 2000s | 74 |
| 2010s | 129 |
| 2020s | 107 |
Meaning & origin
Mehr entered U.S. records in 2000 and has seen modest use, ranking 6,325 in 2025 with about 1 in 89,293 newborns. Its peak came in 2019, reflecting a gradual rise in interest during the 2010s, though its trajectory has been falling since 2020. The name's primary cultural origin is Persian, derived from the word for 'affection' and linked to the Zoroastrian deity Mithra. It has not appeared in any top state lists, indicating a scattered but present usage across the country. As a cross-gender name, it offers a meaningful and historically rich choice for families seeking a connection to Persian heritage.
Mehr derives from Persian مهر (mehr), meaning 'affection, love, kindness' and is related to Avestan Mithra, the Zoroastrian divinity of covenant, light, and truth. It has been used as a given name in Iran and among Persian-speaking communities for centuries, traditionally for both genders but increasingly for girls in recent decades.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mehri
Variants: Mihr, Mehrdad
Sibling names for Mehr
Names that share Mehr's style, for a brother or sister.
