NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Zarnish

A feminine name of Persian origin meaning "golden" or "colored gold".

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.

Zarnish is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Zarnish popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3318, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 12 births.

This profile covers 58 England and Wales registrations across 8 recorded years from 2017 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 58% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 58 living people in the UK are called Zarnish. 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

  • Zarnish ranked #3318 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 7 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2021, when 12 girls were registered as Zarnish.
  • About 58 living people in the UK are estimated to have Zarnish as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3318

2024

Births in 2024

7

Latest year

Peak year

2021

12 births

Estimated living

58

2026

Meaning

What does Zarnish mean?

The name Zarnish has its origins in the Persian language and culture, tracing back to the ancient Persian Empire. It is derived from the Persian word "zar," meaning gold, and the suffix "-nish," which denotes a quality or essence. Thus, the name Zarnish can be interpreted as "golden" or "having the essence of gold."

This name's earliest recorded usage dates back to the 6th century CE, during the Sassanid era of Persia. It was often given to children born into noble or wealthy families, symbolizing their perceived value and importance. In Persian literature and poetry, the name Zarnish was occasionally used as a metaphor for beauty, radiance, and purity.

One of the earliest historical references to the name Zarnish can be found in the "Shahnameh," the epic poem written by the legendary Persian poet Ferdowsi in the late 10th century CE. The poem mentions a character named Zarnish, who was a beautiful and virtuous princess.

Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the name Zarnish. One of the earliest recorded examples is Zarnish Begum (1542-1604), who was a Mughal princess and the daughter of the famous Emperor Akbar. She was known for her intelligence, political acumen, and patronage of the arts.

Another prominent figure was Zarnish Fatima (1639-1701), a Persian poet and calligrapher who lived during the Safavid dynasty. Her works were widely acclaimed for their eloquence and artistic mastery, and she was recognized as one of the most talented female poets of her time.

In the 19th century, Zarnish Khanum (1805-1880) was a renowned Persian painter and miniaturist. Her intricate and detailed paintings captured the beauty of nature and the human form, and she is considered one of the greatest artists of the Qajar era.

More recently, Zarnish Khan (1914-1995) was a pioneering Pakistani educator and social reformer. She founded one of the first schools for girls in Lahore and dedicated her life to promoting women's education and empowerment in Pakistan.

Zarnish Hashmi (born 1957) is a contemporary Pakistani actress and television host. She has appeared in numerous popular TV shows and films, and her performances have earned her critical acclaim and numerous awards throughout her career.

While the name Zarnish is less common in modern times, it continues to be used in parts of the Middle East and South Asia, carrying with it a rich cultural heritage and symbolic meaning rooted in the ancient Persian tradition.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Zarnish over time

The chart below shows babies named Zarnish registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2017 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 Zarnish, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2024, compared with 12 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Zarnish
036912201720202024

Decades

Zarnish by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Zarnish 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 #3234 37 5
2010s #3295 21 3

Related

Names similar to Zarnish

FAQ

Zarnish: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Zarnish was ranked #3318 for girls in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.

When was Zarnish most popular?

The peak year on record was 2021, with 12 babies registered as Zarnish in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Zarnish?

A feminine name of Persian origin meaning "golden" or "colored gold".

How many people are called Zarnish in the UK?

A total of 58 babies have been registered as Zarnish across the 8 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.