NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Zayah

A feminine name with Arabic origins meaning "splendid" or "brilliant".

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.

Zayah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Zayah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2000, with 14 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 24 births.

This profile covers 126 England and Wales registrations across 12 recorded years from 2013 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 125 living people in the UK are called Zayah. 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

  • Zayah ranked #2000 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 14 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2023, when 24 girls were registered as Zayah.
  • About 125 living people in the UK are estimated to have Zayah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2000

2024

Births in 2024

14

Latest year

Peak year

2023

24 births

Estimated living

125

2026

Meaning

What does Zayah mean?

The name Zayah is a unique and intriguing one, with its origins shrouded in mystery and speculation. Some scholars believe it to be derived from the Arabic word "zayyah," which translates to "bright" or "shining." This would suggest that the name may have its roots in the rich cultural tapestry of the Middle East, where names often carry significant symbolic meanings.

Others trace the name's lineage to the Sanskrit language, with a potential connection to the word "zaya," meaning "offspring" or "progeny." If this theory holds true, it could indicate a historical link to the ancient civilizations of the Indian subcontinent, where naming traditions were deeply intertwined with spiritual and philosophical beliefs.

Delving into the annals of history, the earliest recorded instances of the name Zayah are found in ancient texts and manuscripts from the 6th century CE. One such reference appears in the "Kitab al-Buldan," a geographical compendium written by the renowned scholar Al-Yaqubi, who mentions a town called "Zayah" located in present-day Iraq.

As we traverse the centuries, we encounter several notable figures who bore the name Zayah. One such individual was Zayah al-Nahrawani, a celebrated poet and scholar who lived in Baghdad during the 9th century CE, renowned for his contributions to Arabic literature and philosophy.

In the 12th century, we find Zayah ibn Abi al-Rijal, a respected jurist and legal scholar from Cordoba, Spain, who played a pivotal role in the development of Islamic jurisprudence during the Almohad Caliphate.

Moving forward in time, the 14th century witnessed the rise of Zayah al-Din Nakhshabi, a revered Sufi mystic and spiritual teacher from Bukhara, in present-day Uzbekistan, whose teachings and writings had a profound impact on the region's spiritual landscape.

In the realm of art and culture, we encounter Zayah Bint Ismail, a renowned calligrapher and illuminator who lived in the 16th century Ottoman Empire, renowned for her exquisite works that adorned manuscripts and religious texts.

Finally, in the 18th century, we find Zayah Khan, a prominent military leader and statesman from the Mughal Empire, who played a crucial role in the expansion and consolidation of the empire's territories in South Asia.

These are just a few examples of the many individuals who have borne the name Zayah throughout history, each leaving an indelible mark on their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human civilization.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Zayah over time

The chart below shows babies named Zayah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2013 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 Zayah, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 14 births in 2024, compared with 24 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Zayah
06121824201320182024

Decades

Zayah by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Zayah 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 #2025 77 5
2010s #3488 49 7

Related

Names similar to Zayah

FAQ

Zayah: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Zayah was ranked #2000 for girls in England and Wales, with 14 births registered.

When was Zayah most popular?

The peak year on record was 2023, with 24 babies registered as Zayah in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Zayah?

A feminine name with Arabic origins meaning "splendid" or "brilliant".

How many people are called Zayah in the UK?

A total of 126 babies have been registered as Zayah across the 12 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.