UK girl's name
Zhara
A feminine name of Persian origin meaning "golden" or "radiant".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Zhara is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Zhara popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4645, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 6 births.
This profile covers 44 England and Wales registrations across 11 recorded years from 1999 to 2022. 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 67% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 44 living people in the UK are called Zhara. 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 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Zhara ranked #4645 for girls in England and Wales in 2022, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2008, when 6 girls were registered as Zhara.
- • About 44 living people in the UK are estimated to have Zhara as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4645
2022
Births in 2022
4
Latest year
Peak year
2008
6 births
Estimated living
44
2026
Meaning
What does Zhara mean?
The name Zhara is believed to have its origins in the Persian language. It is derived from the Persian word "zharah," which means "radiant" or "shining." This name was popular in ancient Persia, which is now modern-day Iran, during the Achaemenid Empire (550-330 BC) and the Sassanid Empire (224-651 AD).
The name Zhara has been documented in various historical texts and records from the region. One notable mention is in the Shahnameh, a famous epic poem written by the Persian poet Ferdowsi in the late 10th century AD. In this work, Zhara is mentioned as the name of a beautiful Persian princess.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Zhara was Zhara Khatun, a prominent Persian noblewoman who lived in the 13th century. She was the daughter of the Seljuk Sultan Ala ad-Din Kayqubad I and played a significant role in the political affairs of the Seljuk Empire.
Another notable figure named Zhara was Zhara Begum, a 16th-century Mughal princess. She was the daughter of the Mughal Emperor Akbar and was known for her beauty and intelligence. Zhara Begum was also a patron of arts and literature, and her court attracted many renowned poets and scholars of the time.
In the 19th century, Zhara Khanum was a famous Iranian singer and musician. She was born in 1859 and was renowned for her mastery of Persian classical music. Zhara Khanum's performances were highly acclaimed, and she played a significant role in preserving and promoting traditional Persian music.
During the 20th century, Zhara Abdullayeva was a notable Azerbaijani writer and poet. She was born in 1923 and was celebrated for her literary works that explored themes of love, patriotism, and the struggles of women in society. Zhara Abdullayeva's poetry collections, such as "The Homeland," and "The Burning Heart," were widely acclaimed and earned her numerous literary awards.
While the name Zhara has its roots in ancient Persia, it has been embraced by various cultures and communities around the world over time, with each region adding its unique cultural influences and interpretations to the name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Zhara over time
The chart below shows babies named Zhara registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Zhara, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2022, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Zhara by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Zhara 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 | #4645 | 4 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4871 | 8 | 2 |
| 2000s | #4079 | 28 | 7 |
| 1990s | #3225 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Zhara
- 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
Zhara: questions and answers
How popular is the name Zhara in the UK right now?
In 2022, Zhara was ranked #4645 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Zhara most popular?
The peak year on record was 2008, with 6 babies registered as Zhara in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Zhara?
A feminine name of Persian origin meaning "golden" or "radiant".
How many people are called Zhara in the UK?
A total of 44 babies have been registered as Zhara across the 11 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.