Girl name · Arabic
Zahra
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: radiant, shiningZahra is a girl's name that comes from Arabic and means "radiant, shining". It is used in Arabic and Persian.
- Meaning
- Radiant, shining
- Origin
- Arabic
- Gender
- Girl
- US rank
- #540 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Zahra
As a girl's name, Zahra comes from Arabic and means "radiant, shining". It is used in Arabic and Persian.
Its meaning puts Zahra on our names that mean light list.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Zahra on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Zahra on 3 lists.
“Shining, bright; an epithet of Fatima.”
From Arabic names, arabic girl names
“Radiant, shining; Arabic, a title of Fatimah”
From Names that mean light, names that mean bright or shining
“Shining, brilliant; Arabic, an epithet of Fatima. No. 2 for girls in Iran in 1399”
From Persian names, common names in Iran
How popular is Zahra?
- US rank in 2025
- #540
- 562 babies, 350 per million girls
- Best rank
- #540 in 2025
- 562 babies that year
- Babies since 1973
- At least 9,395
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 0 per million |
| 1920s | 0 per million |
| 1930s | 0 per million |
| 1940s | 0 per million |
| 1950s | 0 per million |
| 1960s | 0 per million |
| 1970s | 7 per million |
| 1980s | 20 per million |
| 1990s | 38 per million |
| 2000s | 83 per million |
| 2010s | 208 per million |
| 2020s | 315 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #680 | #655 | #588 | #595 | #592 | #700 | #608 | #555 | #543 | #540 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names spelled like Zahra
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- ZaraLiterary name, possibly based on Arabic Zahra, shining (English, girl)
- ZehraShining, bright (Arabic, girl)
- ZoraDawn (Slavic, girl)
Names with a similar meaning
- RoxanaBright, shining (Persian, girl)
- NeveBright, radiant (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- PhoebeBright, radiant (Greek, girl)
- RoksanaBright, shining (Persian, girl)
- RoxanneBright, shining (Persian, girl)
- SorchaBright, radiant (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- ZerahDawning, shining (Hebrew, boy)
- AberashShining, giving off light (Amharic, girl)
- ArjunWhite, bright, shining (Sanskrit, boy)
- AzharBrilliant, radiant (Arabic, boy)
Middle names for Zahra
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More girl names from Arabic
- AliyahVariant of Aaliyah, high, lofty, sublime (Arabic, girl)
- FatimaOne who abstains (Arabic, girl)
- LeilaNight, from Arabic layl (Arabic, girl)
- NoorLight, radiance (Arabic, unisex)
- SadafSeashell, mother-of-pearl (Arabic, girl)
- AaliyahFeminine form of Aali, high, lofty, sublime (Arabic, girl)
- AishaAlive, living (Arabic, girl)
- AmberAmber, golden fossil resin (Arabic, girl)
- AminaSafe, secure; also trustworthy, faithful (Arabic, girl)
- BushraGood news (Arabic, girl)
Zahra: common questions
What does the name Zahra mean?
Zahra comes from Arabic and means "radiant, shining".
Is Zahra a boy or girl name?
Zahra is mainly a girl's name.
Where does the name Zahra come from?
Zahra comes from Arabic and means "radiant, shining". Today it is used in Arabic and Persian.
How popular is the name Zahra?
Zahra ranked #540 in the US in 2025, with 562 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Zahra?
Names spelled like Zahra include Zara, Zehra and Zora.
What middle names go with Zahra?
Middle names that flow well with Zahra include Amelia, Elise, Elowen, Grace and Leigh. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.