UK girl's name
Zendaya
A feminine name derived from the Shona word "tendai" meaning "to give thanks".
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.
Zendaya is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Zendaya popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #980, with 36 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 51 births.
This profile covers 277 England and Wales registrations across 13 recorded years from 2012 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 71% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 280 living people in the UK are called Zendaya. 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
- • Zendaya ranked #980 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 36 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2022, when 51 girls were registered as Zendaya.
- • Zendaya ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #354 in 2022.
- • About 280 living people in the UK are estimated to have Zendaya as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#980
2024
Births in 2024
36
Latest year
Peak year
2022
51 births
Estimated living
280
2026
Meaning
What does Zendaya mean?
The name Zendaya is a relatively modern name that appears to have originated in the late 20th century. It is believed to be derived from the Shona language spoken in Zimbabwe and parts of neighboring countries in southern Africa. In Shona, the word "zendaya" means "to give thanks" or "to be grateful."
Despite its seemingly recent origins, some sources suggest that the name may have been inspired by or connected to the word "Zendavesta," which refers to the sacred texts of the ancient Persian religion of Zoroastrianism. However, the exact link between the two words is unclear and not well-documented.
The earliest recorded use of the name Zendaya appears to be in the late 20th century, although specific dates and instances are difficult to pinpoint. It is possible that the name was initially coined or popularized by parents seeking a unique and meaningful name for their children.
One of the earliest and most notable individuals to bear the name Zendaya is the American actress and singer Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman, born in 1996. She gained widespread recognition for her starring role in the Disney Channel series "Shake It Up" and has since established a successful career in both acting and music.
Another individual with the name Zendaya is Zendaya Toscano, an American model and social media influencer born in 1993. She has gained a significant following on platforms like Instagram and has been involved in various fashion and lifestyle campaigns.
In the literary world, there is an author named Zendaya, whose full name is Zendaya Ratna Dewi. She is an Indonesian writer known for her work in the fantasy and young adult genres.
Zendaya Renee Rose is an American singer and songwriter, born in 1988. She has released several albums and singles, primarily in the genres of R&B and soul music.
Lastly, Zendaya Lola Tenerelli is a French actress and model, born in 1985. She has appeared in various French television shows and films, as well as modeling campaigns.
It is important to note that while these individuals share the first name Zendaya, their backgrounds, professions, and life stories may vary greatly. The name itself, though relatively new, has gained a notable presence across various fields and cultures in recent decades.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Zendaya over time
The chart below shows babies named Zendaya registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2012 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 Zendaya, the clearest high point is 2022. The latest England and Wales figure is 36 births in 2024, compared with 51 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Zendaya by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Zendaya 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 | #933 | 197 | 5 |
| 2010s | #3374 | 80 | 8 |
Geography
Where Zendaya is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Zendaya. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Zendaya ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #354 in 2022.
Across the UK
Zendaya in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#354 in 2022
1 years of NISRA records, 4 total registered
Related
Names similar to Zendaya
- 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
Zendaya: questions and answers
How popular is the name Zendaya in the UK right now?
In 2024, Zendaya was ranked #980 for girls in England and Wales, with 36 births registered.
When was Zendaya most popular?
The peak year on record was 2022, with 51 babies registered as Zendaya in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Zendaya?
A feminine name derived from the Shona word "tendai" meaning "to give thanks".
How many people are called Zendaya in the UK?
A total of 277 babies have been registered as Zendaya across the 13 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here and 4 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Zendaya most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Zendaya ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #354 in 2022. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.