UK boy's name
Zinedine
A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "good soldier".
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.
Zinedine is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Zinedine popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3254, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 23 births.
This profile covers 256 England and Wales registrations across 26 recorded years from 1998 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 26% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 254 living people in the UK are called Zinedine. 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
- • Zinedine ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 23 boys were registered as Zinedine.
- • About 254 living people in the UK are estimated to have Zinedine as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3254
2024
Births in 2024
6
Latest year
Peak year
2007
23 births
Estimated living
254
2026
Meaning
What does Zinedine mean?
The name Zinedine is of Arabic origin and has its roots in the Berber and Islamic cultures of North Africa. It is derived from the Arabic words "zine" meaning "beauty" and "dine" meaning "religion" or "faith". The name can be translated to mean "beauty of the faith" or "ornament of religion".
In the early centuries of Islam, the name was used by scholars and religious figures in regions such as Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. It gained popularity among Muslims as a way to express their devotion to the Islamic faith and its teachings.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Zinedine dates back to the 12th century, when a Moroccan scholar and philosopher named Zinedine al-Marrakushi lived and wrote about various subjects, including mathematics and astronomy.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Zinedine. One of the most famous was Zinedine Zidane, a French professional football player of Algerian descent, born in 1972. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time and led the French national team to victory in the 1998 World Cup.
Another prominent figure was Zinedine el-Naciri, a Moroccan politician and diplomat who served as the Secretary-General of the Arab Maghreb Union from 1992 to 2008. He played a significant role in promoting regional cooperation and integration among the countries of North Africa.
In the realm of literature, Zinedine Zidouh was an Algerian writer and poet born in 1958. His works explored themes of identity, culture, and the human condition, earning him critical acclaim and various literary awards.
Zinedine Boudjemaa, born in 1942, was an Algerian artist and sculptor known for his abstract and figurative works that reflected the cultural heritage and traditions of his homeland.
Lastly, Zinedine Machach was a Moroccan religious scholar and author who lived in the 19th century. He wrote extensively on Islamic jurisprudence and theology, contributing to the preservation and dissemination of traditional Islamic knowledge in the region.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Zinedine over time
The chart below shows babies named Zinedine registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 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 Zinedine, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2024, compared with 23 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Zinedine by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Zinedine 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 | #2333 | 48 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2052 | 105 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1901 | 100 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2901 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Zinedine
- 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
Zinedine: questions and answers
How popular is the name Zinedine in the UK right now?
In 2024, Zinedine was ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Zinedine most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 23 babies registered as Zinedine in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Zinedine?
A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "good soldier".
How many people are called Zinedine in the UK?
A total of 256 babies have been registered as Zinedine across the 26 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.