UK girl's name
Zerah
A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "rising" or "shining forth".
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.
Zerah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Zerah 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 2023, with 8 births.
This profile covers 18 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2021 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 88% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 18 living people in the UK are called Zerah. 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
- • Zerah ranked #3318 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 7 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2023, when 8 girls were registered as Zerah.
- • About 18 living people in the UK are estimated to have Zerah 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
2023
8 births
Estimated living
18
2026
Meaning
What does Zerah mean?
The name Zerah has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, with roots dating back to ancient times. It is a variant spelling of the Hebrew name Zerach, meaning "rising" or "shining forth," possibly referring to the rising of the sun or the dawning of a new day.
In the Hebrew Bible, Zerah is mentioned as a son of Judah and Tamar, and is also the name of a clan descended from him. This biblical reference suggests that the name has been in use for over 3,000 years. Additionally, the Book of Joshua lists Zerah as a city located in the territory of the tribe of Simeon.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Zerah is Zerah the Cushite, a military leader who led an invasion against the Kingdom of Judah during the reign of King Asa, as mentioned in the Second Book of Chronicles. This event is believed to have taken place around the 9th century BCE.
In more recent history, Zerah Warhaftig (1906-1995) was an Israeli lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Knesset (Israeli parliament) from 1949 to 1973. He played a significant role in drafting the Israeli Declaration of Independence and was a prominent figure in the early years of the state of Israel.
Another notable figure with the name Zerah was Zerah Colburn (1804-1840), an American mathematical prodigy from Vermont. At the age of six, he gained fame for his exceptional ability to perform complex mental calculations with remarkable speed and accuracy.
Zerah Hawley (1785-1858) was an American lawyer and politician from New York, who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1831 to 1837. He was also a prominent figure in the anti-slavery movement and advocated for the abolition of slavery in the United States.
Zerah Shamgar (1891-1977) was an Israeli politician and one of the signatories of the Israeli Declaration of Independence. He served as a member of the Knesset from 1949 to 1955 and played a significant role in the early development of the state of Israel.
While the name Zerah may not be as common today as it once was, its historical significance and biblical roots have contributed to its enduring presence throughout the centuries. With its meaning of "rising" or "shining forth," the name carries a sense of hope, renewal, and the dawning of a new era.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Zerah over time
The chart below shows babies named Zerah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2021 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 Zerah, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2024, compared with 8 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Zerah by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Zerah 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 | #3942 | 18 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Zerah
- 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
Zerah: questions and answers
How popular is the name Zerah in the UK right now?
In 2024, Zerah was ranked #3318 for girls in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.
When was Zerah most popular?
The peak year on record was 2023, with 8 babies registered as Zerah in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Zerah?
A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "rising" or "shining forth".
How many people are called Zerah in the UK?
A total of 18 babies have been registered as Zerah across the 3 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.