NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Zorah

A feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "light" or "radiance".

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.

Zorah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Zorah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4843, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 5 births.

This profile covers 12 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2002 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 80% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 12 living people in the UK are called Zorah. 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

  • Zorah ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2022, when 5 girls were registered as Zorah.
  • About 12 living people in the UK are estimated to have Zorah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4843

2024

Births in 2024

4

Latest year

Peak year

2022

5 births

Estimated living

12

2026

Meaning

What does Zorah mean?

The name Zorah is believed to have its origins in ancient Hebrew and Arabic cultures, dating back to biblical times. It is derived from the Hebrew word "tzohar," which means "light" or "radiance." In the Old Testament, Zorah was a town located in the territory of the tribe of Dan, mentioned in the Book of Joshua.

In Arabic, the name Zorah is spelled as "Zahra" and is closely related to the Arabic word "zahrah," meaning "flower" or "blossom." The name has been popular in the Arab world for centuries, often associated with beauty and elegance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Zorah can be found in the Bible. Zorah was the birthplace of Samson, the famous judge and warrior from the Book of Judges. In this biblical narrative, Samson's exploits against the Philistines are detailed, and his strength is attributed to his adherence to the Nazirite vows.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Zorah. In the 4th century AD, Zorah was the name of a Christian martyr who was executed during the Diocletian persecution in Palestine. Saint Zorah's feast day is celebrated on October 18th in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

In the 9th century, Zorah was the name of a prominent female scholar and poet in the Abbasid Caliphate. She was known for her expertise in Arabic literature and her contributions to the literary culture of the time.

During the Middle Ages, Zorah was the name of a Jewish scholar and philosopher who lived in Spain. He wrote extensively on topics such as ethics, metaphysics, and the reconciliation of Jewish and Aristotelian thought.

In more recent times, Zorah was the name of an American artist and illustrator who lived from 1880 to 1966. She was known for her illustrations in children's books and her paintings depicting scenes from Native American life.

Another notable individual named Zorah was a British actress and singer who lived from 1892 to 1962. She appeared in several West End musicals and became a popular entertainer during the early 20th century.

While the name Zorah has its roots in ancient cultures, it has continued to be used throughout history, carrying with it associations of light, beauty, and cultural significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Zorah over time

The chart below shows babies named Zorah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2002 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 Zorah, the clearest high point is 2022. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 5 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Zorah
01345200220132024

Decades

Zorah by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Zorah 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 #4407 9 2
2000s #4137 3 1

Related

Names similar to Zorah

FAQ

Zorah: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Zorah was ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Zorah most popular?

The peak year on record was 2022, with 5 babies registered as Zorah in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Zorah?

A feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "light" or "radiance".

How many people are called Zorah in the UK?

A total of 12 babies have been registered as Zorah across the 3 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.