NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Zaha

A feminine Arabic name meaning "shining" or "radiant".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Zaha is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Zaha popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1819, with 16 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 16 births.

This profile covers 75 England and Wales registrations across 11 recorded years from 2011 to 2024. 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.

Zaha is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 75 living people in the UK are called Zaha. 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 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Zaha ranked #1819 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 16 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2024, when 16 girls were registered as Zaha.
  • About 75 living people in the UK are estimated to have Zaha as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1819

2024

Births in 2024

16

Latest year

Peak year

2024

16 births

Estimated living

75

2026

Meaning

What does Zaha mean?

The name Zaha has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is believed to have derived from the Arabic word "zahah," which means "flower" or "blossom." This name has been in use in the Middle East and North Africa for centuries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Zaha can be found in ancient Arabic literature, where it was used to refer to a beautiful and fragrant flower. It was often used as a metaphor to describe a woman's beauty and grace.

In the Islamic tradition, the name Zaha is not mentioned in the Quran or other religious scriptures. However, some scholars suggest that it may have been used as a nickname or a descriptive term for certain individuals known for their virtues or physical beauty.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Zaha. One of the earliest recorded individuals was Zaha al-Badri (born around 820 CE), a renowned Arabic poet and scholar from modern-day Iraq. Her works were widely celebrated for their lyrical beauty and profound insights.

Another notable figure was Zaha al-Andalusiya (born in 1050 CE), a renowned female scholar and poet from Cordoba, Spain, during the height of the Islamic Golden Age. She was highly respected for her contributions to literature and philosophy.

In more recent times, the name Zaha gained international recognition through the late Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid (1950-2016). She was the first woman to receive the prestigious Pritzker Prize for architecture and is celebrated for her innovative and visionary designs.

Other notable individuals with the name Zaha include Zaha Wahid (1955-2007), an Afghan politician and activist who fought for women's rights and democracy, and Zaha Amin (born 1959), a Jordanian businesswoman and philanthropist known for her humanitarian efforts.

While the name Zaha may have originated from a specific linguistic and cultural context, its meaning and symbolism have transcended borders, making it a beautiful and meaningful choice for parents around the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Zaha over time

The chart below shows babies named Zaha registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2011 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Zaha, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 16 births in 2024, compared with 16 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Zaha
0481216201120172024

Decades

Zaha by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Zaha 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 #2686 48 5
2010s #4651 27 6

Related

Names similar to Zaha

FAQ

Zaha: questions and answers

How popular is the name Zaha in the UK right now?

In 2024, Zaha was ranked #1819 for girls in England and Wales, with 16 births registered.

When was Zaha most popular?

The peak year on record was 2024, with 16 babies registered as Zaha in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Zaha?

A feminine Arabic name meaning "shining" or "radiant".

How many people are called Zaha in the UK?

A total of 75 babies have been registered as Zaha across the 11 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.