Declining since 2017, #9,457 for girls today.
Popularity of Mithra since 2009
Babies named Mithra per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 2000s | 10 |
| 2010s | 205 |
| 2020s | 101 |
Meaning & origin
Mithra entered U.S. records in 2009 and reached its highest rank in 2017, after which its use has been declining. In 2025, about 1 in 160,727 births received the name, placing it well outside the top thousand. The name has not been concentrated in any particular state. Its rising and falling trajectory mirrors that of many names inspired by ancient mythology, where a spike in interest is followed by a gradual fade as the name becomes less novel. Despite its modest numbers, Mithra carries deep cultural weight rooted in Zoroastrian and Hindu traditions, appealing to parents seeking a historically resonant but uncommon name.
Mithra derives from the Avestan Mithra and Sanskrit Mitra, meaning 'friend' or 'covenant.' In ancient Persian mythology, Mithra was a god of light and oaths, central to Zoroastrian worship. The name spread through the Hellenistic period as Mithras, but as a given name it has primarily been revived in modern India and the West, often chosen for its cultural heritage rather than religious affiliation.
“Mithra” around the world
Where Mithra lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mithi
Variants: Mitra, Mithras
Sibling names for Mithra
Names that share Mithra's style, for a brother or sister.
