UK girl's name
Zuhal
A feminine name of Persian origin meaning "planet Venus".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2016. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Zuhal is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Zuhal popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2016 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5785, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 6 births.
This profile covers 30 England and Wales registrations across 8 recorded years from 2003 to 2016. 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 30 living people in the UK are called Zuhal. 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 2017 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Zuhal ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales in 2016, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2010, when 6 girls were registered as Zuhal.
- • About 30 living people in the UK are estimated to have Zuhal as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5785
2016
Births in 2016
3
Latest year
Peak year
2010
6 births
Estimated living
30
2026
Meaning
What does Zuhal mean?
The name Zuhal has its origins in Arabic, and is derived from the word "Zuhal," which means the planet Saturn. It likely originated in the Middle East during the medieval period when Arabic was the dominant language of science and astronomy.
In ancient Arabic astrology and mythology, the planet Saturn was known as "Zuhal" and was believed to have a significant influence on human affairs. The name may have been given to individuals born under the astrological sign of Saturn or those whose lives were thought to be influenced by the planet.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Zuhal can be found in the works of the renowned Persian poet and philosopher, Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, who lived from 1207 to 1273 CE. In his poetic masterpiece, the Masnavi, Rumi makes references to the planet Zuhal and its astrological significance.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Zuhal. One such person was Zuhal Olcay, a Turkish actress and singer who lived from 1923 to 2006. She was a prominent figure in Turkish cinema during the mid-20th century and starred in numerous films and television shows.
Another notable Zuhal was Zuhal Demir, a Turkish writer and journalist who lived from 1932 to 2016. She was a prolific author and wrote extensively on issues related to women's rights and social justice in Turkey.
In the realm of science, Zuhal Torun was a Turkish mathematician and physicist who made significant contributions to the study of quantum mechanics and particle physics. She was born in 1936 and passed away in 2012.
Zuhal Kilic was a Kurdish-Turkish politician and human rights activist who lived from 1959 to 2019. She was a prominent figure in the pro-Kurdish political movement in Turkey and served as a member of the Turkish parliament.
The name Zuhal has also been used by individuals in the Arab world. Zuhal Olayan was a prominent Saudi businesswoman and philanthropist who lived from 1927 to 2020. She was one of the wealthiest and most influential women in the Middle East and served as the chairwoman of the Olayan Group, a multinational corporation based in Saudi Arabia.
While the name Zuhal has its origins in the Arabic language and Middle Eastern culture, it has gained popularity and usage across various regions and communities over time, reflecting the rich diversity and cultural exchange that has shaped the naming traditions of different societies.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Zuhal over time
The chart below shows babies named Zuhal registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2003 to 2016. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Zuhal, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2016, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Zuhal by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Zuhal 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4730 | 17 | 4 |
| 2000s | #4734 | 13 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Zuhal
- 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
Zuhal: questions and answers
How popular is the name Zuhal in the UK right now?
In 2016, Zuhal was ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Zuhal most popular?
The peak year on record was 2010, with 6 babies registered as Zuhal in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Zuhal?
A feminine name of Persian origin meaning "planet Venus".
How many people are called Zuhal in the UK?
A total of 30 babies have been registered as Zuhal across the 8 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.