NameCensus.

UK name, mostly boys

Zane

A masculine name meaning "God's gracious gift".

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.

Zane is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Zane popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #382, with 109 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 208 births.

This profile covers 2,818 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 52% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 2,946 living people in the UK are called Zane. 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

  • Zane ranked #382 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 109 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2011, when 208 boys were registered as Zane.
  • Zane ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #348 in 2023.
  • About 2,946 living people in the UK are estimated to have Zane as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 98.8% of Zane registrations are for boys.

Latest rank (E&W)

#382

2024

Births in 2024

109

Latest year

Peak year

2011

208 births

Estimated living

2,946

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Zane

In England and Wales birth records, Zane has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 98.8% of registrations are for boys and 1.2% 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.

99% boys
Boys2,818 (98.8%)Girls35 (1.2%)

Zane registered for boys

  • Ranked #382 in 2024
  • 109 boys registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2011 (208 births)

Zane registered for girls

  • Ranked #2,115 in 2024
  • 13 girls registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2024 (13 births)

Meaning

What does Zane mean?

The name Zane has Arabic origins, deriving from the word "Zain" which means "beauty" or "grace." It is believed to have first appeared in the Middle East during the 7th century AD, with the spread of Islam and the Arabic language.

Historically, the name was often associated with individuals of Islamic faith, particularly in regions like the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East. It was commonly used as a way to express hope and aspiration for a child to possess inner and outer beauty.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Zane can be found in the works of renowned Islamic scholars and poets from the 8th and 9th centuries AD. These include the writings of Abu Nuwas (756-814 AD), a famous Arabic poet known for his witty and often controversial verses.

During the medieval period, the name Zane gained popularity across various Islamic empires and dynasties, such as the Abbasid Caliphate and the Ottoman Empire. It was particularly favored among the ruling classes and elite families, who often chose names with positive connotations for their children.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Zane. One such person was Zane al-Din al-Razi (854-925 AD), a Persian polymath who made significant contributions to various fields, including medicine, philosophy, and astronomy.

Another prominent figure was Zane al-Din al-Attar (1119-1220 AD), a Persian poet and theoretician of Sufism, whose works are still widely studied and appreciated in the Islamic world.

In the 16th century, Zane Mehmed Pasha (1470-1548) was a prominent Ottoman statesman and military commander who served as the Grand Vizier, the highest-ranking political advisor to the Sultan.

During the 19th century, Zane Grey (1872-1939) was an American author known for his popular adventure novels set in the American West, many of which were adapted into successful films.

More recently, Zane Maloney (born 1994) is a professional skateboarder from Canada who has gained recognition for his skillful performances and contributions to the sport.

These examples illustrate the enduring presence and diverse cultural backgrounds of individuals who have carried the name Zane throughout history, reflecting its rich heritage and global appeal.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Zane over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Zane 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 Zane, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 109 births in 2024, compared with 208 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
052104156208199620102024

Decades

Zane by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Zane 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 #422 493 5
2010s #364 1,263 10
2000s #370 950 10
1990s #631 112 4

Geography

Where Zane is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Zane. 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.

Zane ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #348 in 2023.

Scotland
9
Northern Ireland
4

Across the UK

Zane in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#382 in 2024

17 years of NRS records, 125 total registered

Northern Ireland (NISRA)

#348 in 2023

7 years of NISRA records, 23 total registered

Notable bearers

Famous people named Zane

  • Zane Banton

    association football player

    association football player

    1996-

Related

Names similar to Zane

FAQ

Zane: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Zane was ranked #382 for boys in England and Wales, with 109 births registered.

When was Zane most popular?

The peak year on record was 2011, with 208 babies registered as Zane in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Zane?

A masculine name meaning "God's gracious gift".

How many people are called Zane in the UK?

A total of 2,818 babies have been registered as Zane across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 125 more in Scotland and 23 in Northern Ireland.

Where is Zane most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Zane ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #348 in 2023. 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.