NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Zishan

An Arabic name meaning "deserving of respect, admirable, honorable".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Zishan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Zishan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3848, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2000, with 16 births.

This profile covers 163 England and Wales registrations across 24 recorded years from 1996 to 2020. 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 25% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 162 living people in the UK are called Zishan. 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 2021 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Zishan ranked #3848 for boys in England and Wales in 2020, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2000, when 16 boys were registered as Zishan.
  • About 162 living people in the UK are estimated to have Zishan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3848

2020

Births in 2020

4

Latest year

Peak year

2000

16 births

Estimated living

162

2026

Meaning

What does Zishan mean?

The name Zishan is believed to have its origins in the Persian language and culture. It is derived from the combination of two Persian words, "zih" meaning life or soul, and "shan" meaning worthy or deserving. The name therefore translates to "worthy of life" or "deserving of soul".

The earliest recorded use of the name Zishan can be traced back to the 10th century, during the reign of the Samanid Empire in modern-day Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia. The name gained popularity among the Persian nobility and aristocracy of the time.

In the 11th century, the name Zishan made an appearance in the Persian epic poem "Shahnameh" (The Book of Kings) by the renowned poet Ferdowsi. The poem is considered a literary masterpiece and a crucial part of Persian cultural heritage, further solidifying the name's significance.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Zishan was Zishan al-Dinawari, a prominent Arabic mathematician and astronomer who lived in the 9th century. His works on arithmetic and geometry were highly influential in the Islamic Golden Age.

Another notable figure who bore the name Zishan was Zishan al-Jurjani, a 12th-century Persian poet and scholar from the city of Jurjan in modern-day Iran. He was renowned for his contributions to Persian literature and his mastery of the Arabic language.

In the 13th century, Zishan al-Attar was a celebrated Persian philosopher and Sufi mystic from Nishapur, Iran. His poetic works, particularly his collection of lyrical poems titled "Mantiq al-Tayr" (The Conference of the Birds), have been widely studied and admired.

During the 14th century, Zishan al-Bukhari was a renowned Islamic scholar and jurist from Bukhara, in modern-day Uzbekistan. He made significant contributions to the field of Islamic jurisprudence and was highly respected for his expertise in the interpretation of religious texts.

In the 16th century, Zishan al-Qazwini was a Persian geographer and historian who authored the influential work "Ajaib al-Makhluqat" (Wonders of Creation), a comprehensive encyclopedia on geography, astronomy, and natural sciences.

The name Zishan has maintained its presence throughout history, being carried by scholars, poets, and intellectuals who left a lasting impact on their respective fields and cultures. Its Persian roots and associations with life, soul, and worthiness have contributed to its enduring popularity and significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Zishan over time

The chart below shows babies named Zishan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Zishan, the clearest high point is 2000. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2020, compared with 16 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Zishan
0481216199620082020

Decades

Zishan by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Zishan 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 #3848 4 1
2010s #2932 58 9
2000s #2424 73 10
1990s #1633 28 4

Related

Names similar to Zishan

FAQ

Zishan: questions and answers

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

In 2020, Zishan was ranked #3848 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Zishan most popular?

The peak year on record was 2000, with 16 babies registered as Zishan in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Zishan?

An Arabic name meaning "deserving of respect, admirable, honorable".

How many people are called Zishan in the UK?

A total of 163 babies have been registered as Zishan across the 24 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.