NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Zuhair

An Arabic masculine name meaning "bright" or "shining".

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.

Zuhair is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Zuhair popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4270, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 13 births.

This profile covers 154 England and Wales registrations across 23 recorded years from 1999 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 31% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 153 living people in the UK are called Zuhair. 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

  • Zuhair ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2006, when 13 boys were registered as Zuhair.
  • About 153 living people in the UK are estimated to have Zuhair as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4270

2024

Births in 2024

4

Latest year

Peak year

2006

13 births

Estimated living

153

2026

Meaning

What does Zuhair mean?

The name Zuhair originates from the Arabic language and has its roots in the Arabian Peninsula. It is derived from the Arabic word "zahir," which means "bright" or "shining." This name has been in use among Arabic-speaking communities for centuries, dating back to the pre-Islamic era.

One of the earliest known historical figures to bear the name Zuhair was Zuhair bin Abi Sulma, a renowned Arab poet who lived in the 6th century CE. He was highly revered for his literary contributions and is considered one of the most influential poets of the pre-Islamic era. His poems, which were compiled in the famous collection known as the "Mu'allaqat," have been studied and admired for their linguistic prowess and cultural significance.

Another notable figure named Zuhair was Zuhair al-Nairizi, a Persian mathematician and astronomer who lived in the 9th century CE. He made significant contributions to the field of mathematics, particularly in the development of algebraic methods and the study of spherical trigonometry. His work influenced numerous scholars and paved the way for further advancements in these disciplines.

In the realm of Islamic scholarship, Zuhair ibn Harb al-Shayban, who lived in the 8th century CE, was a prominent figure. He was a renowned jurist and one of the founders of the Shafi'i school of Islamic jurisprudence. His legal opinions and teachings had a lasting impact on the interpretation and application of Islamic law.

During the medieval period, Zuhair al-Mu'allimi, an Arab poet and calligrapher, gained renown for his literary and artistic contributions. Born in the 10th century CE, he was celebrated for his mastery of the Arabic language and his exquisite calligraphic works, which were widely appreciated and sought after by patrons and collectors of the time.

In more recent history, Zuhair Mohsen, a Palestinian poet and writer, gained recognition for his poetic works that explored themes of resistance, struggle, and identity. Born in 1938, he played a significant role in shaping the modern Palestinian literary landscape and his writings continue to inspire and resonate with readers across the Arab world.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who bore the name Zuhair throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields such as poetry, mathematics, jurisprudence, calligraphy, and literature. The name has endured across generations, reflecting its deep-rooted cultural and linguistic significance within the Arabic-speaking world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Zuhair over time

The chart below shows babies named Zuhair registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 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 Zuhair, the clearest high point is 2006. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 13 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Zuhair
0371013199920112024

Decades

Zuhair by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Zuhair 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 #3533 20 4
2010s #2693 77 10
2000s #2551 51 8
1990s #1850 6 1

Related

Names similar to Zuhair

FAQ

Zuhair: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Zuhair was ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Zuhair most popular?

The peak year on record was 2006, with 13 babies registered as Zuhair in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Zuhair?

An Arabic masculine name meaning "bright" or "shining".

How many people are called Zuhair in the UK?

A total of 154 babies have been registered as Zuhair across the 23 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.