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Name

Meir

/may-EER/ MasculineHebrew

Meaning

Meir is a masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning “one who gives light”.

Meir means one who illuminates in Hebrew and has been treasured in Jewish communities since Rabbi Meir, a towering sage of the second century. Israel's prime minister Golda Meir bore it as a surname, and it remains a classic in observant families.

Common in Israel and Orthodox Jewish communities worldwide.

Popularity in the United States

Boys

Ranked #948 in 2025 · peak #907 in 2024

Data: US Social Security Administration, top-1000 ranks.

At a glance

Origin
Hebrew
Gender
Masculine
Pronounced
/may-EER/
Themes
LightWisdom

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Questions

  • Meir is a masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning “one who gives light”. Meir means one who illuminates in Hebrew and has been treasured in Jewish communities since Rabbi Meir, a towering sage of the second century.

  • Meir is traditionally a masculine (boy) name. Common in Israel and Orthodox Jewish communities worldwide.

  • The name Meir comes from Hebrew. Meir means one who illuminates in Hebrew and has been treasured in Jewish communities since Rabbi Meir, a towering sage of the second century. Israel's prime minister Golda Meir bore it as a surname, and it remains a classic in observant families.

  • Meir is pronounced may-EER.

More names that mean light

Names that share this meaning.

  1. Áine FeminineIrish“radiance, brilliance”
  2. Akari FeminineJapanese“light, brightness”
  3. Alya FeminineArabic“sky, heaven, loftiness”
  4. Anwar MasculineArabic“brighter, more luminous”
  5. Apollo MasculineGreek“uncertain; god of the sun and light”
  6. Arun MasculineSanskrit“reddish glow of the rising sun”