NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Zeva

A name of uncertain origin, possibly meaning "splendor" or "light".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2016. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Zeva is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Zeva popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2016 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3609, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 6 births.

This profile covers 18 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 2009 to 2016. 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.

Zeva is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 18 living people in the UK are called Zeva. 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 2017 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Zeva ranked #3609 for girls in England and Wales in 2016, with 6 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2016, when 6 girls were registered as Zeva.
  • About 18 living people in the UK are estimated to have Zeva as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3609

2016

Births in 2016

6

Latest year

Peak year

2016

6 births

Estimated living

18

2026

Meaning

What does Zeva mean?

The given name Zeva has its origins in Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language that served as the linguistic source for many modern Indo-Iranian languages spoken in South Asia and beyond. The name is believed to have been derived from the Sanskrit word "seva," which means "service" or "devotion." It is thought to have emerged as a name during the ancient Vedic period of Indian history, which spanned from around 1500 BCE to 500 BCE.

One of the earliest known references to the name Zeva can be found in the Hindu scripture known as the Bhagavad Gita, which is a sacred text that forms part of the epic Mahabharata. In this ancient text, the name Zeva is mentioned as a devotee of Lord Krishna, who was revered as an avatar of the Hindu deity Vishnu.

The first recorded person with the name Zeva was a Hindu sage and philosopher who lived in the 6th century BCE. This sage, known as Zeva Maharishi, was renowned for his profound wisdom and teachings on the nature of existence and the path to enlightenment. His philosophical insights and teachings were widely studied and revered throughout ancient India.

Another notable figure in history who bore the name Zeva was a Buddhist monk who lived in the 4th century BCE. This monk, known as Zeva Thera, was a disciple of the Buddha and is said to have played a significant role in the spread of Buddhism throughout the Indian subcontinent.

In the 12th century CE, there was a renowned Islamic scholar and poet from modern-day Iran who went by the name Zeva al-Din Rumi. He was a Sufi mystic and a prolific writer, best known for his spiritual poetry and teachings on the divine love and unity of all beings.

During the medieval period, the name Zeva was also associated with a Hindu warrior and ruler who lived in the 14th century CE. This ruler, known as Zeva Singh, was a member of the Rajput clan and was renowned for his valor and military prowess in defending his kingdom against invading forces.

In more recent times, one of the most famous individuals to bear the name Zeva was Zeva Friedlander, a German-born artist and sculptor who lived from 1879 to 1957. She was known for her intricate and avant-garde sculptures, many of which explored themes of human emotion and the human form.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Zeva over time

The chart below shows babies named Zeva registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2009 to 2016. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Zeva, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2016, compared with 6 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Zeva
02356200920122016

Decades

Zeva by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Zeva 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 #5253 15 4
2000s #5556 3 1

Related

Names similar to Zeva

FAQ

Zeva: questions and answers

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

In 2016, Zeva was ranked #3609 for girls in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.

When was Zeva most popular?

The peak year on record was 2016, with 6 babies registered as Zeva in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Zeva?

A name of uncertain origin, possibly meaning "splendor" or "light".

How many people are called Zeva in the UK?

A total of 18 babies have been registered as Zeva across the 5 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.