NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Zale

A Hebrew name meaning "scorched" or "tormented".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2019. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Zale is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Zale popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2019 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3937, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2019, with 4 births.

This profile covers 4 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2019 to 2019. 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.

Zale is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 4 living people in the UK are called Zale. 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 2020 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Zale ranked #3937 for boys in England and Wales in 2019, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2019, when 4 boys were registered as Zale.
  • About 4 living people in the UK are estimated to have Zale as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3937

2019

Births in 2019

4

Latest year

Peak year

2019

4 births

Estimated living

4

2026

Meaning

What does Zale mean?

The name Zale is believed to have its origins in the Slavic languages, specifically Polish and Czech. It is derived from the Proto-Slavic root word "zhal," which means "grief" or "sorrow." The name likely emerged during the medieval period in Central Europe.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Zale can be found in the Polish epic poem "Pan Tadeusz" by Adam Mickiewicz, written in the early 19th century. The poem mentions a character named Zale, though little is known about the significance of this particular reference.

In terms of historical figures, one notable individual was Zale Udrycki, a Polish nobleman and military commander who lived in the 16th century. He played a significant role in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth's wars against Muscovy and the Crimean Khanate.

Another person of note was Zale Parry, a Welsh-born American lawyer and politician who served as a United States Senator from Indiana in the late 18th century. He was born in 1768 and played a role in the early years of the United States' political landscape.

In the realm of literature, Zale Durkee was an American author and journalist who lived from 1849 to 1923. He wrote several novels and short stories, contributing to the literary scene of his time.

Moving to the world of sports, Zale Thomas was an American professional baseball player who played in the late 19th century. He was a pitcher for various teams, including the Philadelphia Phillies and the Brooklyn Bridegrooms, between 1892 and 1897.

Lastly, Zale Dalen was a Norwegian-American engineer and inventor who lived from 1905 to 1979. He made significant contributions to the development of artificial lighting and was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1983.

While not an exhaustive list, these individuals from various fields and time periods showcase the historical presence and usage of the name Zale across different cultures and contexts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Decades

Zale by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Zale 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
2010s #3937 4 1

Related

Names similar to Zale

FAQ

Zale: questions and answers

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

In 2019, Zale was ranked #3937 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Zale most popular?

The peak year on record was 2019, with 4 babies registered as Zale in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Zale?

A Hebrew name meaning "scorched" or "tormented".

How many people are called Zale in the UK?

A total of 4 babies have been registered as Zale across the 1 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.