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Mira
Pronounced MEER-ah /ˈmɪər.ə/High
Meaning: From Latin 'mirus' (wonderful, amazing), Sanskrit 'mira' (ocean, sea), or Slavic 'mir' (peace, world) — meaning wonderful, ocean, or peaceful depending on cultural context.Medium
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
History & Origin
Mira has remarkable etymological independence across multiple language families. In Latin, it derives from mirus (wonderful), giving rise to words like miracle and admire. In Sanskrit, mira relates to the ocean or sea. In Slavic languages, mir means peace or world. The saint Mirabilis and the medieval mystic poet Mirabai both contributed to the name's cultural resonance across Asia and Europe.
Mira has been used across Indian, Slavic, and Western European cultures for centuries. In India, it connects to the sixteenth-century bhakti poet-saint Mirabai, one of the most celebrated devotional poets in Hindi literature. In the West, Mira gained English-language traction in the late twentieth century as a short, exotic-feeling alternative to longer names. It now ranks in the US top 200 girls' names and is popular across multiple European countries.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
- ★Mirabai (Meera Bai) (c. 1498–c. 1547)Hindu mystic and poet-saint, one of the most important figures of the bhakti devotional movement.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Mira mean?
Mira means 'wonderful' in Latin, 'ocean' in Sanskrit, and 'peace' or 'world' in Slavic languages — a truly multicultural name.
How do you pronounce Mira?
Mira is pronounced MEER-ah (/ˈmɪər.ə/), two syllables with stress on the first.
Is Mira a boy or girl name?
Mira is used as a girl's name across all the cultures where it appears.
How popular is Mira?
Mira has entered the US top 200 girls' names and is popular across India, Slavic countries, and Western Europe.