UK girl's name
Nazanin
A feminine Persian name meaning "delicate" or "tender".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Nazanin is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Nazanin popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5493, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 4 births.
This profile covers 20 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 2006 to 2020. 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 20 living people in the UK are called Nazanin. 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 2021 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Nazanin ranked #5493 for girls in England and Wales in 2020, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2006, when 4 girls were registered as Nazanin.
- • About 20 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nazanin as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5493
2020
Births in 2020
3
Latest year
Peak year
2006
4 births
Estimated living
20
2026
Meaning
What does Nazanin mean?
The name Nazanin is a Persian name that has its origins in the Persian language. It is derived from the words "naz" meaning "delicate" and "anin" meaning "beautiful", thus the name can be translated to mean "delicate beauty". This name has been used in the Persian cultural sphere for many centuries.
The earliest recorded use of the name Nazanin dates back to the 11th century, where it appears in the epic poetry of the renowned Persian poet Ferdowsi. In his masterpiece, the Shahnameh, the name is mentioned as belonging to a beautiful princess. This work is considered one of the most important literary works in Persian history and played a significant role in preserving the Persian language and culture.
In the 13th century, the name Nazanin is also found in the poetry of the celebrated Persian mystic and poet, Rumi. His collection of poems, the Masnavi, contains references to a character named Nazanin, further solidifying the name's place in Persian literature and culture.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Nazanin. One such person was Nazanin Afshin-Jam (born 1979), an Iranian-Canadian human rights activist and former Miss World Canada. Another was Nazanin Boniadi (born 1980), an Iranian-American actress known for her roles in various television series and films.
In the realm of literature, there was Nazanin Malayeri (1937-2021), an Iranian novelist and playwright who wrote extensively about women's issues and societal challenges in Iran. Additionally, Nazanin Khosravani (born 1989) is an Iranian chess player who has won numerous international chess tournaments.
Lastly, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe (born 1978) is an Iranian-British dual citizen who gained international attention when she was arrested and imprisoned in Iran for several years on charges related to her work as a project manager for a media charity.
The name Nazanin has remained a popular choice for baby girls in Persian-speaking regions, carrying with it a rich cultural heritage and literary significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Nazanin over time
The chart below shows babies named Nazanin registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2006 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Nazanin, the clearest high point is 2006. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2020, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nazanin by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nazanin 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 | #5493 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #5505 | 13 | 4 |
| 2000s | #4157 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Nazanin
- Niamh 20,347
- Nicole 19,687
- Natasha 15,578
- Nancy 12,607
- Naomi 12,199
- Natalie 10,885
- Nevaeh 7,869
- Nina 7,285
- Neve 7,180
- Natalia 7,099
- Nadia 6,032
- Nicola 4,927
FAQ
Nazanin: questions and answers
How popular is the name Nazanin in the UK right now?
In 2020, Nazanin was ranked #5493 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Nazanin most popular?
The peak year on record was 2006, with 4 babies registered as Nazanin in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Nazanin?
A feminine Persian name meaning "delicate" or "tender".
How many people are called Nazanin in the UK?
A total of 20 babies have been registered as Nazanin across the 6 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.