UK girl's name
Zaiba
A feminine Arabic name meaning "shining bright".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Zaiba is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Zaiba popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5687, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 10 births.
This profile covers 124 England and Wales registrations across 22 recorded years from 1996 to 2023. 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 30% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 123 living people in the UK are called Zaiba. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Zaiba ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2010, when 10 girls were registered as Zaiba.
- • About 123 living people in the UK are estimated to have Zaiba as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5687
2023
Births in 2023
3
Latest year
Peak year
2010
10 births
Estimated living
123
2026
Meaning
What does Zaiba mean?
The name Zaiba has its origins in the Arabic language and culture, and its roots can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Arabic word "zaib," which means "radiant," "shining," or "brilliant." The name Zaiba is often associated with beauty, light, and grace.
In ancient Arabic literature and poetry, the name Zaiba was often used as a metaphor to describe the beauty and radiance of the moon or a beloved. It was a popular name among the Arab nobility and upper classes during the medieval period.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Zaiba can be found in the works of the renowned Arab poet and philosopher, Abu al-Ala al-Ma'arri, who lived from 973 to 1057 CE. He used the name Zaiba in several of his poems to symbolize the beauty and elegance of his beloved.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Zaiba. One of the most famous was Zaiba bint Amir al-Kalbi, a prominent Arab poet and scholar who lived in the 7th century CE. She was known for her eloquence and mastery of the Arabic language, and her poetry is still studied and admired today.
Another notable figure was Zaiba al-Andalusia, a renowned Muslim scholar and philosopher from the 12th century. She was born in the city of Córdoba, in what is now Spain, and was celebrated for her contributions to the fields of mathematics, astronomy, and poetry.
In the 14th century, there was Zaiba al-Dimashqiyya, a Syrian mystic and Sufi poet who was renowned for her spiritual teachings and her beautiful poetry, which often explored themes of divine love and enlightenment.
In more recent history, one of the most famous bearers of the name Zaiba was Zaiba Khatun, an Indian princess and poet who lived in the 16th century. She was the daughter of the Mughal emperor Akbar and was known for her literary talents and her patronage of the arts.
Another notable figure was Zaiba Khanam, an Indian actress and dancer who lived in the early 20th century. She was a pioneer of the Indian film industry and is remembered for her graceful performances and her contributions to the art of classical Indian dance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Zaiba over time
The chart below shows babies named Zaiba registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Zaiba, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 10 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Zaiba by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Zaiba 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 | #5678 | 6 | 2 |
| 2010s | #4019 | 45 | 8 |
| 2000s | #2793 | 53 | 8 |
| 1990s | #2930 | 20 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Zaiba
- Zoe 23,808
- Zara 19,377
- Zainab 9,407
- Zahra 8,438
- Zoya 4,523
- Zuzanna 4,231
- Zaynab 3,722
- Zofia 2,773
- Zaynah 1,472
- Zaina 1,376
- Zoey 1,262
- Zarah 1,167
FAQ
Zaiba: questions and answers
How popular is the name Zaiba in the UK right now?
In 2023, Zaiba was ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Zaiba most popular?
The peak year on record was 2010, with 10 babies registered as Zaiba in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Zaiba?
A feminine Arabic name meaning "shining bright".
How many people are called Zaiba in the UK?
A total of 124 babies have been registered as Zaiba across the 22 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.