UK girl's name
Zakiya
An Arabic feminine name meaning pure, virtuous, or innocent.
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.
Zakiya is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Zakiya popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3598, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2001, with 15 births.
This profile covers 202 England and Wales registrations across 26 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 40% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 201 living people in the UK are called Zakiya. 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
- • Zakiya ranked #3598 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2001, when 15 girls were registered as Zakiya.
- • About 201 living people in the UK are estimated to have Zakiya as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3598
2023
Births in 2023
6
Latest year
Peak year
2001
15 births
Estimated living
201
2026
Meaning
What does Zakiya mean?
The name Zakiya has its origins in the Arabic language and is derived from the word "zakiya," which means "pure," "clean," or "virtuous." This name has been in use in various Arabic-speaking regions for centuries, especially in the Middle East and North Africa.
One of the earliest known references to the name Zakiya can be found in Islamic literature, particularly in the context of describing individuals with exceptional moral character and righteousness. In some texts, the name is associated with qualities such as piety, honesty, and integrity.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Zakiya. One of the earliest recorded examples is Zakiya bint Ibrahim al-Naysaburi (born around 823 CE), a renowned scholar and poet from the Abbasid era. She was highly respected for her knowledge of Arabic literature and her contributions to the field of poetry.
Another prominent individual with the name Zakiya was Zakiya Khanum (1805-1865), an influential woman in the Mughal Empire. She was the wife of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal emperor of India. Zakiya Khanum played a significant role in the court and was known for her patronage of arts and literature.
In more recent times, Zakiya Daoud (1933-2008) was a Palestinian writer and journalist. She was a pioneering figure in the field of Palestinian literature and was known for her novels and short stories that explored themes of identity, exile, and the Palestinian struggle.
Zakiya Hooker (born 1958) is an American singer and songwriter who has made significant contributions to the blues genre. She is a multiple Blues Music Award winner and has been widely acclaimed for her powerful vocals and her ability to blend traditional blues with contemporary sounds.
Zakiya Rashid (born 1964) is a Kenyan politician and human rights activist. She has been a member of the National Assembly of Kenya and has been actively involved in advocating for women's rights, democracy, and social justice in her country.
These examples illustrate the rich history and cultural significance of the name Zakiya across various regions and time periods. While the name has Arabic roots, it has transcended linguistic and geographic boundaries, being adopted and celebrated by individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Zakiya over time
The chart below shows babies named Zakiya 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 Zakiya, the clearest high point is 2001. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2023, compared with 15 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Zakiya by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Zakiya 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 | #4256 | 19 | 4 |
| 2010s | #3286 | 59 | 8 |
| 2000s | #2173 | 98 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2413 | 26 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Zakiya
- 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
Zakiya: questions and answers
How popular is the name Zakiya in the UK right now?
In 2023, Zakiya was ranked #3598 for girls in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Zakiya most popular?
The peak year on record was 2001, with 15 babies registered as Zakiya in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Zakiya?
An Arabic feminine name meaning pure, virtuous, or innocent.
How many people are called Zakiya in the UK?
A total of 202 babies have been registered as Zakiya across the 26 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.