Meira as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Meira

What is the meaning of the name Meira ?

The baby name Meira is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈmeɪrə/ (MAY-rah).

Meira is Hebrew in Origin.

From Hebrew מאירה, Meira is the feminine counterpart to Meir, built from the verb leha'ir “to give light” (root א־ו־ר, “light”). It conveys “one who illuminates,” “she who gives light,” or simply “illumination.” Common pronunciations are meh-EE-rah and may-EE-rah. Transliterations vary: Meira, Me’ira, and Meirah; related Hebrew light-names include Liora, Orli/Orly, and Ora, while Meir serves as the masculine parallel.

Use of Meira appears across Ashkenazi, Sephardi, and Mizrahi Jewish communities, with greater visibility in 20th-century Israel as Hebrew given names were revived and Hebraized. In English-speaking countries it remains a recognizable yet uncommon choice, often selected for its luminous meaning and straightforward spelling. Nicknames may include Mei or Mira (though Mira has distinct Slavic/Latin roots, and Meera is Sanskrit). The name suits both religious and modern contexts, echoing biblical imagery of light and guidance without being tied to a specific figure, which gives it cross-generational appeal.