UK girl's name
Zara
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "blossoming flower".
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.
Zara is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Zara popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #69, with 666 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 938 births.
This profile covers 19,377 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 71% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 23,234 living people in the UK are called Zara. 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
- • Zara ranked #69 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 666 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2008, when 938 girls were registered as Zara.
- • Zara ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #36 in 2024.
- • About 23,234 living people in the UK are estimated to have Zara as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#69
2024
Births in 2024
666
Latest year
Peak year
2008
938 births
Estimated living
23,234
2026
Meaning
What does Zara mean?
The name Zara originates from the Arabic language and has its roots in the word "zahra," which means "flower" or "blooming." The name is believed to have emerged in the Middle East during the medieval period, around the 7th to 10th centuries.
Zara gained popularity among Muslim communities, particularly in regions where Arabic culture and language had a significant influence. It was often chosen as a name for girls, reflecting the beauty and delicacy associated with flowers.
One of the earliest historical references to the name Zara can be found in the Quran, the central religious text of Islam. In the Quran, the name is mentioned as Zarah, which is considered a variant spelling of Zara.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Zara. One of the most famous was Zara Yeats (1868-1924), an Irish playwright and co-founder of the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. She was a prominent figure in the Irish literary revival movement and played a significant role in promoting Irish culture and identity.
Another well-known Zara was Zara Schmiterlöw (1903-1986), a Swedish artist and sculptor known for her modernist works. Her sculptures and paintings were featured in numerous exhibitions and can be found in several museums around the world.
In the realm of music, Zara Dolukhanova (1918-2007) was a renowned mezzo-soprano from Russia. She performed with prestigious opera companies and was celebrated for her powerful and expressive voice.
Zara Blacks (1836-1905), a Native American activist, was a prominent figure in the fight for indigenous rights in the United States. She played a crucial role in advocating for the preservation of Native American culture and land rights.
Zara Alexandrovna (1914-1998), a Russian-born artist, was known for her vibrant abstract paintings and her contributions to the modern art movement in the United States. Her works were exhibited in numerous galleries and museums throughout her career.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Zara throughout history, showcasing its enduring appeal and the diverse backgrounds of those who have borne this name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Zara over time
The chart below shows babies named Zara registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, 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 Zara, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 666 births in 2024, compared with 938 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Zara by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Zara 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 | #71 | 3,467 | 5 |
| 2010s | #70 | 8,196 | 10 |
| 2000s | #89 | 6,440 | 10 |
| 1990s | #148 | 1,274 | 4 |
Geography
Where Zara is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Zara. 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.
Zara ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #36 in 2024.
Across the UK
Zara in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#36 in 2024
45 years of NRS records, 2,558 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#64 in 2024
28 years of NISRA records, 1,421 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Zara
-
Zara Shaw
association football player
English football player
2007-
-
Zara Rutherford
aircraft pilot
Belgian-British pilot
2002-
-
Zara Foley
association football player
Irish association football player
2002-
-
Zara Mullooly
para swimmer
British Paralympic swimmer
2002-
-
Zara Holland
actor; beauty pageant contestant
British television personality
1995-
-
Zara MacIntosh
actor; singer; dancer
British actress, singer, and dancer
1995-
-
Zara Mohammed
first woman secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain
1991-
-
Zara Churton
(born 1991)
1991-
Related
Names similar to Zara
- Zoe 23,808
- 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
- Zoha 995
FAQ
Zara: questions and answers
How popular is the name Zara in the UK right now?
In 2024, Zara was ranked #69 for girls in England and Wales, with 666 births registered.
When was Zara most popular?
The peak year on record was 2008, with 938 babies registered as Zara in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Zara?
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "blossoming flower".
How many people are called Zara in the UK?
A total of 19,377 babies have been registered as Zara across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 2,558 more in Scotland and 1,421 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Zara most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Zara ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #36 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.