UK girl's name
Arzu
Meaning "wish" or "desire" in Turkish and several Islamic cultures.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Arzu is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Arzu popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4709, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 8 births.
This profile covers 107 England and Wales registrations across 22 recorded years from 1999 to 2023. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 106 living people in the UK are called Arzu. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Arzu ranked #4709 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2004, when 8 girls were registered as Arzu.
- • About 106 living people in the UK are estimated to have Arzu as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4709
2023
Births in 2023
4
Latest year
Peak year
2004
8 births
Estimated living
106
2026
Meaning
What does Arzu mean?
The name Arzu has its origins in the Persian language and culture, dating back to ancient times in the regions of modern-day Iran and Central Asia. It is derived from the Persian word "arzū," which means "desire" or "wish." The name reflects a sense of longing or aspiration, and it may have been given to children as a hope for their future desires or dreams to be fulfilled.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Arzu can be found in the works of the renowned Persian poet Hafez, who lived in the 14th century. In his poetry, Hafez often used the name Arzu as a metaphor for the beloved or the object of desire, reflecting the name's symbolic meaning.
In the 16th century, the name Arzu gained further prominence through the life of Mirza Arzu, a renowned Persian scholar and lexicographer. He was born in 1587 and is best known for his contributions to the study of the Persian language, including his influential dictionary, "Siraj al-Lughah."
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Arzu, including:
1. Arzu Qemerlinsky (1923-2020), an Azerbaijani artist and sculptor known for her contributions to the development of modern Azerbaijani art. 2. Arzu Rana Deuba (born 1942), a Nepalese politician and the first democratically elected female Head of State in Nepal's history, serving as the President of Nepal from 2015 to 2023. 3. Arzu Abdullayeva (born 1965), an Azerbaijani writer and poet, known for her works exploring themes of love, identity, and cultural heritage. 4. Arzu Geybullayeva (born 1984), an Azerbaijani singer and actress, who has gained popularity for her performances in various musical genres and television shows. 5. Arzu Merali (born 1967), a British writer and journalist of Indian descent, known for her works on gender, identity, and cultural issues.
While the name Arzu has its roots in the Persian language and culture, it has gained popularity and recognition in various parts of the world, particularly in regions with strong cultural ties to Iran and Central Asia. The name continues to carry the essence of its original meaning, reflecting a universal desire for fulfillment and aspiration.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Arzu over time
The chart below shows babies named Arzu registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Arzu, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2023, compared with 8 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Arzu by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Arzu was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #5320 | 10 | 3 |
| 2010s | #4102 | 48 | 9 |
| 2000s | #3530 | 45 | 9 |
| 1990s | #3225 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Arzu
- Amelia 94,830
- Ava 54,556
- Amy 52,495
- Alice 46,815
- Abigail 45,658
- Amber 31,922
- Anna 27,802
- Alexandra 19,455
- Amelie 18,051
- Abbie 15,971
- Aimee 15,158
- Annabelle 15,120
FAQ
Arzu: questions and answers
How popular is the name Arzu in the UK right now?
In 2023, Arzu was ranked #4709 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Arzu most popular?
The peak year on record was 2004, with 8 babies registered as Arzu in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Arzu?
Meaning "wish" or "desire" in Turkish and several Islamic cultures.
How many people are called Arzu in the UK?
A total of 107 babies have been registered as Arzu across the 22 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.