UK boy's name
Zayed
An Arabic name meaning "he who increases" or "prosperous".
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.
Zayed is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Zayed popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2671, with 8 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2013, with 14 births.
This profile covers 172 England and Wales registrations across 22 recorded years from 2000 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 57% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 171 living people in the UK are called Zayed. 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
- • Zayed ranked #2671 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 8 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2013, when 14 boys were registered as Zayed.
- • About 171 living people in the UK are estimated to have Zayed as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2671
2024
Births in 2024
8
Latest year
Peak year
2013
14 births
Estimated living
171
2026
Meaning
What does Zayed mean?
The name Zayed is derived from the Arabic word "zayd," which means "increase" or "abundance." It is a masculine given name that has been used in the Arab world for centuries.
In Arabic culture, the name Zayed is associated with prosperity, growth, and fertility. It was commonly given to boys in the hope that they would grow up to be successful and prosperous individuals.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Zayed can be found in the Quran, the holy book of Islam. In Surah Al-Ahzab (33:37), the name Zayd is mentioned as the name of a companion of the Prophet Muhammad.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Zayed. One of the most famous was Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan (1918-2004), the founder and first President of the United Arab Emirates. He played a crucial role in uniting the seven emirates and establishing the UAE as a modern and prosperous nation.
Another prominent figure with the name Zayed was Zayed bin Shaker (1801-1856), a renowned Arab poet and scholar from Najd, Saudi Arabia. He was widely acclaimed for his contributions to Arabic literature and his mastery of the Arabic language.
In the 12th century, Zayed bin Husayn Al-Kufi (1088-1162) was a renowned Islamic scholar and theologian from Kufa, Iraq. He was known for his extensive knowledge of the Quran and Islamic jurisprudence, and his works were widely studied in the Islamic world.
Zayed bin Ali Al-Husayni (1588-1668) was a prominent Arab historian and scholar who lived in Damascus, Syria. He authored several books on the history of the Arab world, including a comprehensive work on the history of Damascus.
Zayed bin Muhammad Al-Wadi'i (1671-1718) was an influential Islamic scholar and Sufi mystic from Yemen. He was known for his poetry, which often explored themes of spirituality and divine love.
These are just a few examples of the many notable figures throughout history who have borne the name Zayed. The name has a rich heritage and continues to be widely used in the Arab world, carrying with it the connotations of abundance, prosperity, and growth.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Zayed over time
The chart below shows babies named Zayed registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2000 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 Zayed, the clearest high point is 2013. The latest England and Wales figure is 8 births in 2024, compared with 14 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Zayed by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Zayed 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 | #2628 | 43 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2215 | 98 | 10 |
| 2000s | #3170 | 31 | 7 |
Related
Names similar to Zayed
- Zachary 29,362
- Zak 9,988
- Zain 7,620
- Zac 7,272
- Zack 7,101
- Zakariya 5,447
- Zach 4,754
- Zayn 4,326
- Zachariah 3,234
- Zion 3,141
- Zane 2,818
- Zayd 2,609
FAQ
Zayed: questions and answers
How popular is the name Zayed in the UK right now?
In 2024, Zayed was ranked #2671 for boys in England and Wales, with 8 births registered.
When was Zayed most popular?
The peak year on record was 2013, with 14 babies registered as Zayed in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Zayed?
An Arabic name meaning "he who increases" or "prosperous".
How many people are called Zayed in the UK?
A total of 172 babies have been registered as Zayed across the 22 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.