Meir Boy

Popularity: #673 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Origin(s)

PronunciationMAY-er / /ˈmeɪər/

Hebrew

Meaning

light; illumination

Historical & Cultural Background

Meir is a Hebrew name commonly used in Jewish communities. It is derived from the Hebrew root 'or,' meaning light. The name has historical significance in Jewish tradition, often associated with scholars and leaders. It reflects a positive connotation of enlightenment and guidance.

Trend Summary

The name Meir has seen consistent use within Jewish communities but remains less common in the broader U.S. population.

Similar Names

Variants

  • Meir
  • Meirav

International Variants

  • Meir (Hebrew)

Famous people named Meir

Meir Kahane was an American-Israeli rabbi and politician known for his controversial views and founding the Jewish Defense League.

Meir Shalev is an Israeli author celebrated for his novels and contributions to Israeli literature.

Meir Amit was an Israeli politician and former head of the Mossad, recognized for his role in Israeli intelligence.

Meir Balaban was a notable Jewish historian and scholar, known for his work on Jewish history in Eastern Europe.

Fictional characters named Meir

Sibling Suggestions

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Meir was first seen in the United States in 1951. Meir has ranked as high as #1107 nationally, which occurred in 2024, and has been most popular in New York, California, Florida, Maryland, and Illinois. In the past 5 years the name Meir has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Meir (2024)

StateBirthsShare
NY 109
83%
CA 11
8%
FL 6
5%
IL 6
5%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

YearBirths
19516
19576
19585
19599
19628
19648
19655
19666
19675
196916
197011
197116
19727
197314
197411
197520
197615
197717
197823
197916
198018
198112
198227
198324
198425
198521
198631
198731
198841
198942
199028
199154
199242
199337
199444
199540
199652
199759
199854
199945
200045
200150
200260
200359
200479
200588
200677
2007114
2008109
200994
2010118
2011119
2012126
2013111
2014148
2015152
2016156
2017175
2018190
2019197
2020222
2021187
2022232
2023244
2024253