UK girl's name
Zulekha
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "bright, brilliant, beautiful".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Zulekha is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Zulekha popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4056, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2000, with 17 births.
This profile covers 233 England and Wales registrations across 27 recorded years from 1996 to 2023. 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 29% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 232 living people in the UK are called Zulekha. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Zulekha ranked #4056 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2000, when 17 girls were registered as Zulekha.
- • About 232 living people in the UK are estimated to have Zulekha as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4056
2023
Births in 2023
5
Latest year
Peak year
2000
17 births
Estimated living
232
2026
Meaning
What does Zulekha mean?
The name Zulekha is of Arabic origin and can be traced back to the Islamic tradition. It is derived from the Arabic word "zulk" which means "smooth" or "silky," suggesting a delicate and graceful nature associated with the name.
Zulekha is a prominent name in Islamic literature, appearing in the Quran as the name of the wife of the Egyptian ruler, Potiphar. The story of Zulekha and the prophet Yusuf (Joseph) is a significant narrative in the Quran, emphasizing the themes of temptation, chastity, and divine intervention.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Zulekha can be found in the 9th century Persian epic poem, Shahnameh, written by the renowned poet Ferdowsi. In this work, Zulekha is depicted as a beautiful and powerful woman who falls in love with the prophet Yusuf.
Historically, the name Zulekha has been borne by various notable figures. One of the earliest known individuals with this name was Zulekha Banu (1555-1605), a Mughal princess and the daughter of Emperor Akbar the Great. She was known for her literary talents and her patronage of the arts.
Another prominent figure was Zulekha Begum (1770-1825), a noblewoman and the wife of Nawab Wazir Ali Khan of Oudh, India. She was renowned for her philanthropic efforts and her support of educational institutions.
In the 19th century, Zulekha Zahra (1870-1950) was a prominent Egyptian feminist and writer who advocated for women's rights and education. She was one of the pioneers of the women's movement in Egypt.
Zulekha Hendricks (1919-2007) was a South African activist and politician who played a significant role in the anti-apartheid struggle. She dedicated her life to the pursuit of justice and equality for all South Africans.
Zulekha Yunus (1936-2007) was a renowned Bangladeshi academic and educator. She was instrumental in the establishment of several educational institutions, including the renowned Scholastica School in Dhaka.
These historical figures, spanning different eras and regions, have carried the name Zulekha with grace and distinction, leaving a lasting impact on their respective fields and societies.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Zulekha over time
The chart below shows babies named Zulekha registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Zulekha, the clearest high point is 2000. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2023, compared with 17 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Zulekha by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Zulekha 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 | #3550 | 18 | 3 |
| 2010s | #3229 | 89 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2587 | 89 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1780 | 37 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Zulekha
- 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
Zulekha: questions and answers
How popular is the name Zulekha in the UK right now?
In 2023, Zulekha was ranked #4056 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Zulekha most popular?
The peak year on record was 2000, with 17 babies registered as Zulekha in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Zulekha?
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "bright, brilliant, beautiful".
How many people are called Zulekha in the UK?
A total of 233 babies have been registered as Zulekha across the 27 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.