Mehtab
An Urdu name meaning "moonlight" or "the light of the moon".
Name Census estimates that about 300 living Americans carry the first name Mehtab. It is a predominantly male name (91.4% of registrations). The average person named Mehtab today is around 8 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Mehtab births was 2023 (40 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Mehtab. 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.
People living today
300
~ 1 in 1,142,514 Americans
Peak year
2023
40 babies that year
Average age
8
years old
2024 SSA rank
#3,649
Tracked since 2006
Gender
Gender distribution for Mehtab
Mehtab leans heavily male at 91.4% of total registrations, but 26 girls have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Mehtab as a male name
- Ranked #3,649 in 2024
- 31 male births in 2024
- Peak: 2023 (31 births)
Mehtab as a female name
- Ranked #16,801 in 2024
- 5 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2023 (9 births)
Popularity
Mehtab: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Mehtab from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 158 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mehtab 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 Mehtab during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Mehtabs live
Origin
Meaning and history of Mehtab
Mehtab is a name that originates from the Persian language, which is spoken primarily in Iran, Afghanistan, and parts of Central Asia. The name dates back to the medieval period, when Persian culture and literature were flourishing.
The word "Mehtab" is derived from the combination of two Persian words: "mah" meaning moon, and "tab" meaning radiance or shine. Therefore, the name "Mehtab" translates to "moonlight" or "radiance of the moon." It is a poetic and romantic name, reflecting the beauty and serenity of the moon's glow.
In Persian literature, the moon and its radiance have been a recurring motif, symbolizing love, beauty, and mysticism. The name Mehtab is often associated with these symbolic meanings, making it a popular choice for poets and writers throughout history.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mehtab can be found in the works of the renowned Persian poet, Hafez (1315-1390 AD). He frequently used the word "Mehtab" in his poems to describe the beauty of his beloved or the enchanting night sky.
Another notable figure with the name Mehtab was Mehtab Banu Begum (1590-1604 AD), a Mughal princess and the daughter of Emperor Akbar the Great. She was renowned for her beauty, intelligence, and her involvement in the cultural and intellectual life of the Mughal court.
In the 17th century, Mehtab Khan (1617-1668 AD) was a prominent military commander and noble in the Mughal Empire, serving under emperors Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb. He played a significant role in the Mughal campaigns and was known for his bravery and leadership skills.
During the 18th century, Mehtab Rai (1718-1772 AD) was a renowned painter from the Mughal era. He was a master of the Mughal miniature painting tradition and is renowned for his intricate and vibrant depictions of court life, portraits, and scenes from Persian literature.
In more recent times, Mehtab Haji (1902-1984) was a celebrated Indian classical singer and musician from the Patiala Gharana. She was known for her exceptional vocal range and her renditions of Khyal, Thumri, and other classical forms of Hindustani music.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Mehtab, a name deeply rooted in Persian culture and literature, evoking the beauty and radiance of the moon.
People
Mehtab + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Mehtab 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
Mehtab: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Mehtab?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 300 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Mehtab 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 1,142,514 US residents.
Is Mehtab a common name?
We classify Mehtab as "Very Rare". It ranks above 79.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 302 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Mehtab most popular?
The single biggest year for Mehtab was 2023, when 40 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Mehtab is about 8 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Mehtab a male name?
Yes, 91.4% of people registered as Mehtab 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.
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.