Mira

What does Mira mean?

Mira goes back to Latin and reached central Europe through the Roman world and the language of the church and translates as “The wonderful one”. Name meanings are rarely definitive; where several readings circulate we list the most common first. Treat them as origin stories rather than definitions.

Mira is given as a girls' name and as a gender-neutral name. The readings differ slightly; both are attested.

Sound, length and pronunciation

It is pronounced MI-ra. Ending on a vowel gives it a soft, open finish — names like this pair especially well with short, hard surnames.

With 4 letters and 2 syllables, Mira is decidedly short. Short names have a practical advantage: you can call them across a playground without losing the second half, and they need no nickname because they already are one.

How popular is the name?

Mira sits at rank 324 in the popularity tables — recognisable, but well outside the names you hear daily.

Does Mira suit your surname?

Check Mira against your surname for three things: the rhythm when spoken, the initials (Anna Sophie Schmidt becomes A.S.S.) and the nickname nursery will inevitably produce.

Sibling names that go with it

Parents who go on to have a second child often want names that work together. Mira pairs well with Paul, Emil, Luca, Anton, Felix.

Registry offices in Germany, Austria and Switzerland

In Germany the registry office decides whether a first name may be entered. It must be recognisable as a first name and must not harm the child's wellbeing. Austria applies comparable criteria, and in Switzerland the civil registry decides. Mira is an established name and entirely unproblematic in all three countries.