NameCensus.

UK name, mostly boys

Zaheen

A feminine name of Urdu origin meaning "intelligent" or "bright".

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.

Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 15 girls.

Zaheen is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Zaheen popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2015, with 6 births.

This profile covers 25 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 2012 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 25 living people in the UK are called Zaheen. 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

  • Zaheen ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2015, when 6 boys were registered as Zaheen.
  • Zaheen is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
  • About 25 living people in the UK are estimated to have Zaheen as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 62.5% of Zaheen registrations are for boys.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5119

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

2015

6 births

Estimated living

25

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Zaheen

In England and Wales birth records, Zaheen has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 62.5% of registrations are for boys and 37.5% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

63% boys
38% girls
Boys25 (62.5%)Girls15 (37.5%)

Zaheen registered for boys

  • Ranked #5,119 in 2024
  • 3 boys registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2015 (6 births)

Zaheen registered for girls

  • Ranked #4,763 in 2016
  • 4 girls registered in 2016
  • Peak: 2009 (4 births)

Meaning

What does Zaheen mean?

The name Zaheen has its roots in the Arabic language and is believed to have originated in the Middle Eastern region during the medieval period. It is derived from the Arabic word "zaheen," which means "shining" or "brilliant." The name is often associated with qualities such as radiance, beauty, and intelligence.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Zaheen can be found in ancient Arabic literature, where it was used as a descriptor for individuals who possessed exceptional talents or abilities. In some Islamic texts, the name is mentioned as a reference to the radiant light of knowledge and wisdom.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Zaheen. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this name was Zaheen al-Kindi, an Arab philosopher and mathematician who lived in the 9th century CE. He made significant contributions to the fields of optics, music theory, and cryptography.

Another prominent figure was Zaheen al-Razi, a Persian polymath who lived in the 9th and 10th centuries CE. He was a renowned physician, philosopher, and alchemist, and his works had a profound impact on the development of various scientific disciplines.

In the 12th century, Zaheen al-Din Nakhshabi was a renowned Sufi mystic and poet from Persia. His spiritual teachings and poetic works have been widely studied and appreciated throughout the Islamic world.

During the 14th century, Zaheen al-Bukhari was a prominent Islamic scholar and hadith collector from present-day Uzbekistan. His compilation of hadith (sayings and traditions of the Prophet Muhammad) is regarded as one of the most authentic and authoritative collections in Islamic literature.

In more recent times, Zaheen Yousuf was a celebrated Pakistani artist and calligrapher who lived from 1924 to 2001. His intricate calligraphic works showcasing Arabic script and Islamic geometric patterns have been exhibited and appreciated worldwide.

While the name Zaheen has its roots in the Arabic language and Islamic culture, it has transcended geographical and cultural boundaries, being adopted by various communities around the world. The name continues to hold significance and appeal, reflecting its association with radiance, brilliance, and exceptional qualities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Zaheen over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Zaheen in England and Wales, from 2009 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 Zaheen, the clearest high point is 2015. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 6 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
02579200920162024

Decades

Zaheen by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Zaheen 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 #4481 11 3
2010s #3744 14 3

Related

Names similar to Zaheen

FAQ

Zaheen: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Zaheen was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Zaheen most popular?

The peak year on record was 2015, with 6 babies registered as Zaheen in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Zaheen?

A feminine name of Urdu origin meaning "intelligent" or "bright".

How many people are called Zaheen in the UK?

A total of 25 babies have been registered as Zaheen 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.