UK name, mostly boys
Zain
A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "beauty" or "grace".
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.
Zain is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Zain popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #189, with 264 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 459 births.
This profile covers 7,620 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 58% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 7,878 living people in the UK are called Zain. 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
- • Zain ranked #189 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 264 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2011, when 459 boys were registered as Zain.
- • Zain ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #307 in 2024.
- • About 7,878 living people in the UK are estimated to have Zain as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 99.7% of Zain registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#189
2024
Births in 2024
264
Latest year
Peak year
2011
459 births
Estimated living
7,878
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Zain
In England and Wales birth records, Zain has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 99.7% of registrations are for boys and 0.3% 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.
Zain registered for boys
- Ranked #189 in 2024
- 264 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2011 (459 births)
Zain registered for girls
- Ranked #5,891 in 2024
- 3 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2016 (6 births)
Meaning
What does Zain mean?
The name Zain has its origins in the Arabic language and is derived from the word "zain," which means "beauty" or "adornment." It is believed to have been in use since the 7th century AD, during the early days of Islam.
The name Zain is closely associated with the Islamic faith and is mentioned in the Quran, the holy book of Islam. In Chapter 20, Verse 88, the Quran refers to the "Calf of Gold" as "zainah," which is a derivative of the word "zain."
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Zain can be found in the writings of the famous Arab scholar and philosopher Al-Ghazali (1058-1111 AD). He mentioned the name in his work "Ihya Ulum al-Din" (The Revival of the Religious Sciences).
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Zain. One of the most famous was Zain al-Din al-Amili (1501-1588), a prominent Shia scholar and philosopher from present-day Lebanon. He wrote numerous works on Islamic theology and jurisprudence, and his teachings had a significant influence on the Shia Islamic tradition.
Another notable figure was Zain al-Abidin (659-713 AD), the fourth Imam of the Shia Muslims and a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. He was known for his piety, wisdom, and dedication to Islamic teachings.
In the realm of literature, Zain al-Din al-Hafiz (1325-1390) was a renowned Persian poet and mystic from Shiraz, Iran. His works, including the famous "Divan-e Hafez," are considered among the greatest masterpieces of Persian literature.
A more contemporary figure was Zain al-Abidin Tawfiq (1888-1914), an Egyptian poet and journalist who played a significant role in the literary renaissance of the early 20th century in Egypt.
Another notable bearer of the name was Zain al-Abidin (1835-1908), the Sultan of Pahang, a state in Malaysia, from 1888 to 1908. He was known for his efforts to modernize and develop his kingdom during his reign.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Zain over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Zain in England and Wales, from 1996 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 Zain, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 264 births in 2024, compared with 459 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Zain by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Zain 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 | #214 | 1,170 | 5 |
| 2010s | #198 | 2,938 | 10 |
| 2000s | #161 | 2,892 | 10 |
| 1990s | #209 | 620 | 4 |
Geography
Where Zain is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Zain. 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.
Zain ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #307 in 2024.
Across the UK
Zain in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#307 in 2024
33 years of NRS records, 310 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#395 in 2023
2 years of NISRA records, 6 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Zain
-
Zain Ullah
actor
director, cinematographer, actor (born 2001)
2001-
-
Zain Asher
journalist
Nigerian journalist based in the UK
1983-
Related
Names similar to Zain
- Zachary 29,362
- Zak 9,988
- 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
- Zayan 2,318
FAQ
Zain: questions and answers
How popular is the name Zain in the UK right now?
In 2024, Zain was ranked #189 for boys in England and Wales, with 264 births registered.
When was Zain most popular?
The peak year on record was 2011, with 459 babies registered as Zain in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Zain?
A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "beauty" or "grace".
How many people are called Zain in the UK?
A total of 7,620 babies have been registered as Zain across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 310 more in Scotland and 6 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Zain most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Zain ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #307 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.