Mirah

Meaning & origin

Mirah is a rare and gently rising name in the United States, first recorded in 1920 but remaining largely uncommon until recently. Its trajectory has been consistently upward since 1987, and it achieved its highest rank yet in 2024 at 7,491. With an incidence of 1 in 114,805 births in the latest year, it is a distinctive choice that avoids the top ranks. The name's exact etymology is debated: it may draw from the Hebrew Meir ('light'), the Sanskrit Mira ('ocean'), or simply function as a modern respelling of Mira. This ambiguity adds to its quiet appeal, allowing parents to assign their own meaning. While no top states are associated with Mirah yet, its steady growth suggests it may become more regionally concentrated in the future.

The origins of Mirah are unclear. It may have emerged as a modern spelling variant of Mira, a name with multiple possible sources: from the Sanskrit word for 'ocean,' from the Slavic word for 'peace,' or as a short form of names like Mirabelle. Alternatively, it could derive from the Hebrew Meir ('light'), influenced by the popularity of names like Mira. In the United States, Mirah began appearing in Social Security records in 1920 but remained rare until a resurgence starting in the late 20th century.