UK boy's name
Zahir
A name of Arabic origin meaning "splendid" 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.
Zahir is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Zahir popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1460, with 18 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2014, with 21 births.
This profile covers 322 England and Wales registrations across 28 recorded years from 1997 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 86% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 323 living people in the UK are called Zahir. 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
- • Zahir ranked #1460 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 18 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2014, when 21 boys were registered as Zahir.
- • Zahir ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #727 in 2024.
- • About 323 living people in the UK are estimated to have Zahir as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1460
2024
Births in 2024
18
Latest year
Peak year
2014
21 births
Estimated living
323
2026
Meaning
What does Zahir mean?
The name Zahir is an Arabic word that means "shining," "brilliant," or "radiant." It has its origins in the ancient Semitic languages and can be traced back to the Middle Ages.
The earliest references to the name Zahir can be found in Islamic literature and religious texts, particularly in relation to the 99 names of Allah. In these texts, the name Zahir is used as one of the attributes of God, describing His manifestation and presence in all aspects of creation.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Zahir is Zahir al-Din Muhammad Babur (1483-1530), the founder of the Mughal Empire in the Indian subcontinent. He was a renowned military leader and poet, known for his adventurous spirit and love for nature.
Another notable figure with the name Zahir is Zahir al-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb (1618-1707), the sixth Mughal emperor who ruled over a vast territory in the Indian subcontinent. His reign was marked by strict adherence to Islamic laws and a period of political stability.
In the realm of science, Zahir al-Din al-Baydawi (1286-1321) was a Persian scholar and theologian who made significant contributions to the fields of astronomy and mathematics. His works, particularly on the interpretation of the Qur'an, were widely studied in the medieval Islamic world.
In more recent history, Zahir Shah (1914-2007) was the last king of Afghanistan, ruling from 1933 to 1973. He is remembered for his efforts to modernize the country and promote democratic reforms during his reign.
Another prominent figure with the name Zahir is Zahir Raihan (1935-1972), a Bangladeshi novelist, playwright, and filmmaker. He is considered a pioneer of the Bangladeshi film industry and is renowned for his socially conscious literary works.
While the name Zahir has its roots in the Arabic language and Islamic culture, it has gained popularity across various regions and communities, transcending religious and cultural boundaries. The name's association with brilliance and radiance has made it a favored choice for many parents around the world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Zahir over time
The chart below shows babies named Zahir registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 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 Zahir, the clearest high point is 2014. The latest England and Wales figure is 18 births in 2024, compared with 21 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Zahir by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Zahir 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 | #1819 | 71 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1846 | 129 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1634 | 106 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1977 | 16 | 3 |
Geography
Where Zahir is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Zahir. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Zahir ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #727 in 2024.
Across the UK
Zahir in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#727 in 2024
1 years of NRS records, 3 total registered
Related
Names similar to Zahir
- Zachary 29,362
- Zak 9,988
- Zain 7,620
- Zac 7,272
- Zack 7,101
- Zakariya 5,447
- Zach 4,754
- Zayn 4,326
- Zachariah 3,234
- Zion 3,141
- Zane 2,818
- Zayd 2,609
FAQ
Zahir: questions and answers
How popular is the name Zahir in the UK right now?
In 2024, Zahir was ranked #1460 for boys in England and Wales, with 18 births registered.
When was Zahir most popular?
The peak year on record was 2014, with 21 babies registered as Zahir in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Zahir?
A name of Arabic origin meaning "splendid" or "radiant".
How many people are called Zahir in the UK?
A total of 322 babies have been registered as Zahir across the 28 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 3 more in Scotland.
Where is Zahir most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Zahir ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #727 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.