Zainab sits comfortably in the UK charts at #128 in 2025 — recognisable but not overwhelming. Your child may occasionally share their name.
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UK Rank 2025
#128
US Rank #810
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About the Name Zainab
Zainab has held its ground, ranked #128 in 2025 and never far from its best of #125 in 2008 — a name with lasting rather than trend-driven appeal. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996.
Zainab is fairly common in the UK, so your child is very likely to be the only Zainab in their class.
In the US it sits at #853 — notably more popular in the UK than across the Atlantic.
⭐ Famous People Named Zainab
Zainab al-Khawaja — Zainab Abdulhadi al-Khawaja is a Bahraini human rights activist, and a participant in the Bahraini uprising.
Zainab Dakingari — Zainab Usman Saidu Dakingari is the daughter of the former president of Nigeria, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua and wife to the former Executive Governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Usman Saidu Nasamu Dakingari.
Zainab Khatoon — Zainab Khatoon is an Indian para-power lifter from Uttar Pradesh.
Biographical summaries are shortened from Wikipedia and are used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence; those summaries remain available under that same licence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Zainab
Unlikely. With around 385 UK babies named Zainab per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Zainab in their class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Zainab has been fairly steady, ranked #128 in 2025 against #133 in 2020. Its best recorded position was #125 in 2008.
Zainab is more popular in the UK (#138) than in the US (#853). Names with strong rankings in both countries tend to have broad cross-cultural appeal, working well for international families or those with ties to both nations.
Notable people named Zainab include: Zainab al-Khawaja, Zainab Dakingari and Zainab Khatoon. Short summaries for each appear below.
Zainab ranks #853 in the US top 1,000 (2024). It's recognised in America but considerably more popular in the UK.
385
UK babies named Zainab (2025)
~0.0
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.2
In a school of 600
↑ 5 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Zainab
Almost certainly the only Zainab in the class
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UK Popularity (1996–2025)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2025)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Zainab
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Zainab Usman Saidu Dakingari is the daughter of the former president of Nigeria, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua and wife to the former Executive Governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Usman Saidu Nasamu Dakingari.
Haja Zainab Hawa Bangura is a Sierra Leonean politician and social activist who has been serving as the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) since 2018, appointed by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.
Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed ((); born 16 June 1960) is a Nigerian accountant and politician who served as the minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning of Nigeria from 2019 to 2023.