UK girl's name
Zarina
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "shining" or "golden".
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.
Zarina is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Zarina popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2771, with 9 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 15 births.
This profile covers 269 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 268 living people in the UK are called Zarina. 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
- • Zarina ranked #2771 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 9 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2016, when 15 girls were registered as Zarina.
- • About 268 living people in the UK are estimated to have Zarina as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2771
2024
Births in 2024
9
Latest year
Peak year
2016
15 births
Estimated living
268
2026
Meaning
What does Zarina mean?
The name Zarina is of Persian origin, deriving from the word "zar" meaning gold or golden. It is believed to have originated in ancient Persia, now known as Iran, during the reign of the Sassanid Empire (226–651 AD). The name was likely used to describe someone with a golden or radiant complexion, or as a term of endearment.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Zarina can be found in the Shahnameh, a renowned Persian epic poem written by the celebrated poet Ferdowsi between 977 and 1010 AD. In this literary masterpiece, Zarina is depicted as a beautiful and virtuous princess.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Zarina. One such figure was Zarina Begum (1638–1700), a Mughal princess and the daughter of the powerful Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. She was known for her patronage of the arts and her influential role in the Mughal court.
Another prominent Zarina was Zarina Huntington (1867–1957), an American philanthropist and socialite. She was instrumental in founding the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California, which houses a vast collection of rare books, manuscripts, and works of art.
In the realm of literature, Zarina Hashmi (1938–2022) was a renowned Pakistani poet and writer. Her works explored themes of love, feminism, and social justice, earning her numerous accolades, including the prestigious Pride of Performance award from the Pakistani government.
Zarina Wahab (born 1959) is an acclaimed Indian actress who has appeared in numerous Bollywood films and television shows. She is particularly known for her roles in the critically acclaimed movies "Chit Chor" and "Lakshmi."
Zarina Screwvala (born 1954) is an Indian businesswoman and philanthropist. She co-founded the Swades Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering rural communities in India through sustainable development initiatives.
The name Zarina has transcended cultural boundaries and continues to be popular across various regions, carrying with it a rich historical legacy and connotations of beauty, radiance, and nobility.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Zarina over time
The chart below shows babies named Zarina 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 Zarina, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 9 births in 2024, compared with 15 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Zarina by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Zarina 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 | #2595 | 48 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2540 | 103 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2519 | 78 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1824 | 40 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Zarina
- 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
Zarina: questions and answers
How popular is the name Zarina in the UK right now?
In 2024, Zarina was ranked #2771 for girls in England and Wales, with 9 births registered.
When was Zarina most popular?
The peak year on record was 2016, with 15 babies registered as Zarina in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Zarina?
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "shining" or "golden".
How many people are called Zarina in the UK?
A total of 269 babies have been registered as Zarina across the 29 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.