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Name Lineage

    The first name Zaynab

    A girl’s name from Arabic meaning “fragrant flower”.

    2 syllables Female

    Meaning and origin

    Arabic origin

    Zaynab means “fragrant flower” in Arabic.

    Arabic زَيْنَب (zaynab, literally “fragrant flower”).

    More names that mean flower.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 149 girls were named Zaynab, making it the 301st most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2016, with 184 births (#271).

    0100200 1996200020052010201520202025
    3,871
    babies named Zaynab, 1996–2025
    #301
    rank in 2025
    2016
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Zaynab with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Zaynab at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 144 girls born in the United States were named Zaynab, the 1,492nd most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 2016, when 146 were.

    0100200 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    2,509
    babies named Zaynab since 1880
    #1,492
    rank in 2025
    2016
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Zaynab in other languages

    Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary

    زَيْنَب
    zaynab
    Arabic
    ज़ैनब
    zainab
    Hindi
    Zeynep
    Turkish

    Nicknames and spellings

    Other spellings and forms

    Famous people named Zaynab

    5 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Zaynab bint Ali
      Daughter of Ali ibn Abi Talib and Fatimah bint Muhammad (626-682)
    • Lalla Zaynab
      Algerian Sufi religious leader, 1850–1904
    • Zainab bint Muhammad
      Eldest daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, 599–629
    • Umm Ruman
      Companion of Muhammad and wife of Abu Bakr, died 628
    • Zeynab Habib
      Beninese singer of world music, born 1975

    More Arabic girls’ names

    All 218 names of Arabic origin

    Questions

    What does the name Zaynab mean?
    Zaynab means “fragrant flower” in Arabic.
    What is the origin of the name Zaynab?
    Arabic زَيْنَب (zaynab, literally “fragrant flower”).
    How popular is the name Zaynab?
    In 2025, 149 girls born in England and Wales were named Zaynab, ranking 301st. Its peak was 2016, with 184 births.
    Is Zaynab a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 2,509 US babies named Zaynab since 1880 were girls.
    When was Zaynab most popular?
    2016 in the United States, when 146 babies were named Zaynab, its highest rank at 1,544th.
    What are other spellings of Zaynab?
    Zainab, Zeinab, Zeineb, Zenab, Zeynab and Zeyneb.