UK girl's name
Ziva
A Hebrew name meaning "radiance," "brilliance," or "light.".
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.
Ziva is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Ziva popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1449, with 22 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2013, with 40 births.
This profile covers 451 England and Wales registrations across 18 recorded years from 2007 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 55% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 475 living people in the UK are called Ziva. 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
- • Ziva ranked #1449 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 22 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2013, when 40 girls were registered as Ziva.
- • Ziva ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #444 in 2011.
- • About 475 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ziva as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1449
2024
Births in 2024
22
Latest year
Peak year
2013
40 births
Estimated living
475
2026
Meaning
What does Ziva mean?
The name Ziva has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture. It is derived from the Hebrew word "ziv," which means "radiance" or "brilliance." The name is believed to have been in use since ancient times, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the biblical period.
In the Old Testament, Ziva is mentioned as one of the sons of Simeon, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. This reference suggests that the name has been in use for at least three thousand years. Additionally, the name appears in various Jewish texts and historical records throughout the centuries.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Ziva was Ziva ben Kenaz, a Jewish scholar and leader who lived in the 2nd century CE. He is known for his contributions to the study of the Torah and the development of Jewish law.
During the Middle Ages, the name Ziva was prevalent among Jewish communities in Europe and the Middle East. One notable figure was Ziva ben Yaakov, a 13th-century Jewish philosopher and theologian from Spain. He is best known for his work on reconciling Jewish religious teachings with Aristotelian philosophy.
In more recent history, Ziva has been a popular name among Jewish communities worldwide. One of the most famous individuals with this name was Ziva Galili, an Israeli politician and social activist who was born in 1929 and passed away in 2018. She was a prominent figure in the Israeli Labor Party and served as a member of the Knesset (Israeli parliament) for several terms.
Another notable individual with the name Ziva is Ziva Amir, an Israeli actress born in 1961. She is best known for her roles in various Israeli television series and films, and has received several awards for her performances.
Ziva Postec, born in 1949, is a renowned Israeli writer and poet. Her works explore themes of identity, feminism, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. She has published numerous collections of poetry and has won several prestigious literary awards.
While the name Ziva has its roots in Hebrew and Jewish culture, it has gained popularity across various cultures and communities around the world. The name's meaning of "radiance" or "brilliance" has resonated with many parents, making it a popular choice for their children.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ziva over time
The chart below shows babies named Ziva registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2007 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 Ziva, the clearest high point is 2013. The latest England and Wales figure is 22 births in 2024, compared with 40 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ziva by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ziva 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 | #1402 | 115 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1167 | 302 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2303 | 34 | 3 |
Geography
Where Ziva is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Ziva. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Ziva ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #444 in 2011.
Across the UK
Ziva in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#790 in 2024
7 years of NRS records, 23 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#444 in 2011
1 years of NISRA records, 3 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Ziva
-
Ziva Wing Kiu
singer; television presenter; model
Hong Kong female singer and programme host
1996-
Related
Names similar to Ziva
- 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
Ziva: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ziva in the UK right now?
In 2024, Ziva was ranked #1449 for girls in England and Wales, with 22 births registered.
When was Ziva most popular?
The peak year on record was 2013, with 40 babies registered as Ziva in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ziva?
A Hebrew name meaning "radiance," "brilliance," or "light.".
How many people are called Ziva in the UK?
A total of 451 babies have been registered as Ziva across the 18 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 23 more in Scotland and 3 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Ziva most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Ziva ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #444 in 2011. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.