Mehraj
An Arabic masculine name meaning ascent or enlightenment.
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Mehraj. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Mehraj today is around 4 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Mehraj births was 2022 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Mehraj. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Mehraj with official rankings and popularity over time.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Mehraj. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2022
5 babies that year
Average age
4
years old
2022 SSA rank
#13,657
Tracked since 2022
Popularity
Mehraj: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Mehraj by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Mehraj during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Mehraj
The name Mehraj finds its origins in the Arabic language and culture, dating back to the 7th century AD. It is derived from the Arabic word "mi'raj," which means "ascension" or "ladder." This name holds significant historical and religious connotations within the Islamic tradition.
The word "mi'raj" is associated with the Prophet Muhammad's miraculous night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and his subsequent ascension to the heavens. This event, known as Isra and Mi'raj, is commemorated annually by Muslims and is considered a pivotal moment in Islamic history.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mehraj can be found in the works of renowned Islamic scholars and historians from the 8th and 9th centuries. For example, the famous historian Al-Tabari (838-923 AD) mentioned individuals bearing this name in his chronicles.
Throughout history, several notable figures have carried the name Mehraj. One such individual was Mehraj Begum (1612-1681), a powerful and influential Empress consort of the Mughal Empire during the reign of Shah Jahan. Her influence and support for architecture led to the construction of several notable buildings, including the iconic Taj Mahal.
Another prominent figure was Mehraj Khan (1673-1734), a renowned military commander and governor during the later years of the Mughal Empire. He played a significant role in defending the empire's territories against invaders and is celebrated for his strategic prowess.
In the realm of literature, Mehraj Anwar (1909-1983) was a celebrated Urdu poet and writer from India. His works, which explored themes of love, spirituality, and social commentary, earned him widespread acclaim and numerous accolades.
Additionally, Mehraj Malik (1917-2000) was a prominent Pakistani diplomat and statesman who served as the country's Foreign Minister and played a crucial role in shaping its foreign policy during the latter half of the 20th century.
Mehraj Din (1924-2011) was a renowned Pakistani cricketer who represented the national team in the 1940s and 1950s. He was widely regarded as one of the finest all-rounders of his era and was inducted into the prestigious ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2009.
People
Mehraj + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Mehraj as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Mehraj: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Mehraj?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Mehraj going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Mehraj a common name?
We classify Mehraj as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Mehraj most popular?
The single biggest year for Mehraj was 2022, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Mehraj is about 4 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Mehraj in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Mehraj a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Mehraj in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Mehraj still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Mehraj in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Mehraj can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people share the name Mehraj?
Find out how many people share the name Mehraj on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.