UK boy's name
Zeshan
A masculine Arabic name meaning "handsome" or "beautiful".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2013. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Zeshan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Zeshan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2013 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4685, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1999, with 25 births.
This profile covers 210 England and Wales registrations across 17 recorded years from 1996 to 2013. 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 12% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 208 living people in the UK are called Zeshan. 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 2014 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Zeshan ranked #4685 for boys in England and Wales in 2013, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1999, when 25 boys were registered as Zeshan.
- • About 208 living people in the UK are estimated to have Zeshan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4685
2013
Births in 2013
3
Latest year
Peak year
1999
25 births
Estimated living
208
2026
Meaning
What does Zeshan mean?
The name Zeshan is of Persian origin, derived from the Middle Persian word 'zeshan' which means 'warrior' or 'brave'. It has its roots in the ancient Zoroastrian religion and culture of Persia (modern-day Iran and surrounding regions), dating back to the 6th century BCE.
The name gained popularity in the Islamic world after the Arab conquest of Persia in the 7th century CE. It was embraced by various Muslim communities across Central Asia, South Asia, and parts of the Middle East. The earliest recorded use of the name Zeshan can be found in Persian literature and historical texts from the medieval period.
One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Zeshan was a Persian warrior and military commander who lived during the reign of the Seljuk Empire in the 11th century CE. He was known for his bravery and leadership in battles against rival dynasties.
Another prominent figure was Zeshan Bahadur, a 16th-century Mughal nobleman and military commander in the court of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. He was renowned for his valor and military prowess, and played a crucial role in the expansion of the Mughal Empire across the Indian subcontinent.
In the 18th century, Zeshan Khan was a notable Afghan ruler and military leader who established the Hotaki dynasty in present-day Afghanistan and parts of Iran. He is remembered for his successful military campaigns against the Safavid Persian Empire.
In the realm of literature, Zeshan Sahib was a celebrated Urdu poet from the 19th century. He was born in Delhi and is known for his contributions to the Urdu literary tradition, particularly his ghazals (a form of poetic expression) that celebrated themes of love, spirituality, and the human experience.
More recently, Zeshan Quadri was a renowned Pakistani cricketer who played for the national team in the 1970s and 1980s. He was a talented all-rounder and is remembered for his outstanding performances, including his crucial role in Pakistan's victory in the 1987 World Cup semi-final against Australia.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Zeshan over time
The chart below shows babies named Zeshan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2013. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Zeshan, the clearest high point is 1999. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2013, compared with 25 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Zeshan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Zeshan 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 | #3624 | 16 | 3 |
| 2000s | #1966 | 109 | 10 |
| 1990s | #757 | 85 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Zeshan
- 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
Zeshan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Zeshan in the UK right now?
In 2013, Zeshan was ranked #4685 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Zeshan most popular?
The peak year on record was 1999, with 25 babies registered as Zeshan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Zeshan?
A masculine Arabic name meaning "handsome" or "beautiful".
How many people are called Zeshan in the UK?
A total of 210 babies have been registered as Zeshan across the 17 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.