NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Zaila

Winner, victor; of Arabic origin meaning "shadow" or "shade".

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.

Zaila is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Zaila popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3318, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 8 births.

This profile covers 34 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 2002 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 88% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 34 living people in the UK are called Zaila. 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

  • Zaila ranked #3318 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 7 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2022, when 8 girls were registered as Zaila.
  • About 34 living people in the UK are estimated to have Zaila as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3318

2024

Births in 2024

7

Latest year

Peak year

2022

8 births

Estimated living

34

2026

Meaning

What does Zaila mean?

The name Zaila is of uncertain origin, with various theories proposed about its roots and meaning. One interpretation suggests that it may derive from the Arabic word "zail," meaning "shadow" or "shade." Another possibility is that it stems from the Persian word "zail," meaning "beautiful" or "radiant."

Some scholars trace the name's origins to the Sanskrit language, where "zail" could refer to a type of musical instrument or a specific melody. There are also theories linking Zaila to the Hebrew word "tzela," meaning "rib" or "side," potentially connecting it to the biblical story of Eve's creation from Adam's rib.

In ancient times, the name Zaila appeared in various cultures and regions, though its exact historical references are scarce. One of the earliest recorded instances dates back to the 9th century, when a Persian poet named Zaila ibn al-Mubarak composed verses praising the beauty of nature and love.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Zaila. In the 12th century, Zaila al-Andalusi was a renowned female philosopher and mathematician from Al-Andalus (modern-day Spain and Portugal). Her contributions to the fields of astronomy and geometry were highly influential during the Islamic Golden Age.

In the 16th century, Zaila Banu Begum was a powerful Mughal princess and the daughter of Emperor Akbar. She was known for her literary talents and patronage of the arts, and her name appears in various historical accounts and court chronicles from that era.

During the 19th century, Zaila Feijó was a Brazilian abolitionist and advocate for women's rights. She played a pivotal role in the movement to abolish slavery in Brazil and fought tirelessly for social justice and equality.

In the early 20th century, Zaila Nara was an Italian opera singer renowned for her powerful soprano voice. She performed in renowned opera houses across Europe and is remembered for her interpretations of roles in works by composers such as Verdi and Puccini.

Another notable figure with the name Zaila was Zaila Guzmán, a Mexican artist and painter active in the mid-20th century. Her vibrant and colorful works often depicted scenes from everyday life and the cultural richness of Mexico, earning her recognition as one of the country's most celebrated artists.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Zaila over time

The chart below shows babies named Zaila registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2002 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 Zaila, the clearest high point is 2022. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2024, compared with 8 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Zaila
02468200220132024

Decades

Zaila by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Zaila 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 #3882 28 5
2010s #5785 3 1
2000s #4137 3 1

Related

Names similar to Zaila

FAQ

Zaila: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Zaila was ranked #3318 for girls in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.

When was Zaila most popular?

The peak year on record was 2022, with 8 babies registered as Zaila in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Zaila?

Winner, victor; of Arabic origin meaning "shadow" or "shade".

How many people are called Zaila in the UK?

A total of 34 babies have been registered as Zaila across the 7 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.