NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Zarrah

An Arabic name meaning "noble" or "brilliant".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2014. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Zarrah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Zarrah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2014 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4684, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 6 births.

This profile covers 31 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 2003 to 2014. 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 67% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 31 living people in the UK are called Zarrah. 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 2015 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Zarrah ranked #4684 for girls in England and Wales in 2014, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2008, when 6 girls were registered as Zarrah.
  • About 31 living people in the UK are estimated to have Zarrah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4684

2014

Births in 2014

4

Latest year

Peak year

2008

6 births

Estimated living

31

2026

Meaning

What does Zarrah mean?

The name Zarrah has its origins in the Persian language and culture, tracing back to ancient times. It is derived from the Persian word "zar," which means "gold" or "golden." The name is believed to have been first used in regions of modern-day Iran, Afghanistan, and parts of Central Asia.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Zarrah can be found in the Shahnameh, the epic Persian poem written by Ferdowsi in the late 10th century. In this literary work, Zarrah is mentioned as a character, although details about their significance are scarce.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the name Zarrah. One of the earliest was Zarrah al-Dimashqi, an Arab physician and philosopher who lived in the 9th century. He is known for his contributions to the fields of medicine and natural sciences during the Islamic Golden Age.

Another prominent figure was Zarrah Khan, a powerful military leader and governor who lived in the 16th century during the Mughal Empire. He played a crucial role in the expansion of the empire's territories and served under the reign of Emperor Akbar.

In the 17th century, Zarrah Begum was a prominent figure in the Mughal court. She was the daughter of Emperor Shah Jahan and is remembered for her involvement in the construction of the iconic Taj Mahal, one of the most celebrated architectural marvels in the world.

Moving forward in time, Zarrah Ghaffari was an Afghan politician and women's rights activist who lived in the 20th century. She was a vocal advocate for women's education and empowerment, and her efforts helped pave the way for greater gender equality in Afghanistan.

Lastly, Zarrah Yaghmai was an accomplished Afghan poet and writer who gained recognition for her literary works in the 20th century. Her poetry often explored themes of love, social justice, and the struggle for independence in her homeland.

While the name Zarrah has its roots in ancient Persian culture, it has transcended geographical boundaries and found its place in various parts of the world, carried by individuals who have left their mark on history through their contributions and achievements.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Zarrah over time

The chart below shows babies named Zarrah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2003 to 2014. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Zarrah, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2014, compared with 6 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Zarrah
02356200320082014

Decades

Zarrah by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Zarrah 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 #4248 14 3
2000s #4126 17 4

Related

Names similar to Zarrah

FAQ

Zarrah: questions and answers

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

In 2014, Zarrah was ranked #4684 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Zarrah most popular?

The peak year on record was 2008, with 6 babies registered as Zarrah in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Zarrah?

An Arabic name meaning "noble" or "brilliant".

How many people are called Zarrah in the UK?

A total of 31 babies have been registered as Zarrah across the 7 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.