NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Zahan

A name of Persian origin meaning "tongue" or "world".

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.

Zahan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Zahan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2671, with 8 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 10 births.

This profile covers 36 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 2004 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.

The latest count is about 80% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 36 living people in the UK are called Zahan. 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

  • Zahan ranked #2671 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 8 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2023, when 10 boys were registered as Zahan.
  • About 36 living people in the UK are estimated to have Zahan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2671

2024

Births in 2024

8

Latest year

Peak year

2023

10 births

Estimated living

36

2026

Meaning

What does Zahan mean?

The name Zahan has its origins in the Persian language and culture, dating back to the ancient Iranian civilization. It is derived from the Persian word "zahan," which means "tongue" or "speech." The name is believed to have been used as early as the 6th century AD during the Sassanid Empire, one of the most influential Persian dynasties in pre-Islamic Iran.

Zahan is a name that has appeared in several historical texts and literary works from the region. One of the earliest recorded mentions can be found in the Shahnameh, the epic Persian poem composed by the renowned poet Ferdowsi in the late 10th century AD. In this literary masterpiece, Zahan is mentioned as the name of a character, though details about their significance are scarce.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Zahan. One of the earliest recorded figures was Zahan ibn Thabit (c. 650 AD - c. 720 AD), an influential Arab scholar and poet from the Umayyad Caliphate. He was renowned for his contributions to the field of Arabic literature and linguistics.

Another prominent individual with the name Zahan was Zahan al-Attar (c. 1170 AD - c. 1230 AD), a Persian mystic and Sufi poet from Nishapur, Iran. His works, which often celebrated the virtues of love and spirituality, have been widely studied and appreciated within the Sufi tradition.

In the 14th century, Zahan al-Din Razi (c. 1310 AD - c. 1390 AD), a Persian physician and alchemist, made significant contributions to the fields of medicine and chemistry. His writings on medical treatments and pharmaceutical practices were highly influential during his time and beyond.

During the 17th century, Zahan Ghiyas Beg (c. 1590 AD - c. 1660 AD), an Indian nobleman and poet from the Mughal Empire, gained recognition for his literary works in Persian and Urdu. His poetry often explored themes of love, mysticism, and the natural world.

Another notable figure bearing the name Zahan was Zahan Khan (c. 1770 AD - c. 1845 AD), a military commander and statesman from the Durrani Empire in modern-day Afghanistan. He played a crucial role in the political and military affairs of the region during his time.

While the name Zahan has its roots in the Persian language and culture, it has been adopted and used across various regions and cultures, particularly in the Middle East and parts of South Asia, over the centuries. Its enduring presence in history reflects the rich cultural heritage and linguistic diversity of these regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Zahan over time

The chart below shows babies named Zahan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2004 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 Zahan, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 8 births in 2024, compared with 10 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Zahan
035810200420142024

Decades

Zahan by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Zahan 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 #2759 30 4
2010s #4749 3 1
2000s #3651 3 1

Related

Names similar to Zahan

FAQ

Zahan: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Zahan was ranked #2671 for boys in England and Wales, with 8 births registered.

When was Zahan most popular?

The peak year on record was 2023, with 10 babies registered as Zahan in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Zahan?

A name of Persian origin meaning "tongue" or "world".

How many people are called Zahan in the UK?

A total of 36 babies have been registered as Zahan 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.