Is Zaynab a boy or a girl name?

Zaynab is overwhelmingly a girl name in the United States. Of the 2,226 U.S. babies recorded with this name, more than 99% are girls.

How popular is the name Zaynab in 2023?

Zaynab ranks #1513 for girls in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 2016 with 146 babies.

How do you pronounce Zaynab?

Zaynab is pronounced ZAY-nab (2 syllables).

What are common spellings of Zaynab?

Zaynab is also written as Zainab, Zeinab, Zeynep.

A name from Arabic · Girl

Zaynab

زَيْنَب

"Fragrant flowering plant; beauty." Name of several women central to early Islam — a daughter of the Prophet ﷺ, one of his wives, and his granddaughter Zaynab bint Ali, who gave the famous sermon in Kufa after Karbala.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 41-year arc in numbers.

2,226 U.S. births recorded from 1982–2023.

Popularity · 1982–2023

143 births in 2023

1982 2002 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

Z"Fragrant flowering plant; beauty." Name of several women central to early Islam — a daughter of the Prophet ﷺ, one of his wives, and his granddaughter Zaynab bint Ali, who gave the famous sermon in Kufa after Karbala.

Etymology, in one line

Arabic root: z-y-n — ز-ي-ن, to adorn — possibly a fragrant flowering plant

Regional variants

"Zaynab" is classical Arabic; "Zainab" is the South Asian spelling (Pakistani/Indian); "Zeynep" is Turkish — all name the same figure. Deeply honored in Shia Muslim families for Zaynab bint Ali.

Variants & spellings

3 ways to spell "Zaynab".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Zainab Most common Zeinab Zeynep

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Zaynab.

Z
Zaynab bint Ali
Z
Zeynep Tufekci (sociologist)

Quick answers

People often ask about Zaynab.

What does the name Zaynab mean?: Zaynab means "Fragrant flowering plant; beauty." Name of several women central to early Islam — a daughter of the Prophet ﷺ, one of his wives, and his granddaughter Zaynab bint Ali, who gave the famous sermon in Kufa after Karbala.
Where does the name Zaynab come from?: Zaynab is a girl name of Arabic origin. "Zaynab" is classical Arabic; "Zainab" is the South Asian spelling (Pakistani/Indian); "Zeynep" is Turkish — all name the same figure.
Is Zaynab a boy or a girl name?: Zaynab is overwhelmingly a girl name in the United States. Of the 2,226 U.S. babies recorded with this name, more than 99% are girls.
How popular is the name Zaynab in 2023?: Zaynab ranks #1513 for girls in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 2016 with 146 babies.
How do you pronounce Zaynab?: Zaynab is pronounced ZAY-nab (2 syllables).
What are common spellings of Zaynab?: Zaynab is also written as Zainab, Zeinab, Zeynep.

Similar names

If you love Zaynab, also consider…

Night; dark-haired beauty

Aaliyah عَالِيَة

#12243

Girl ·Arabic

"Exalted, high, sublime

Omar عُمَر

#263

Boy ·Arabic

"Long-lived, flourishing life

Lila

#213

Girl ·Arabic

A variant of Layla, from Arabic ليلى, "night

"King, sovereign, owner

Nadia نَادِيَة

#489

Girl ·Arabic

"Announcer, caller; morning dew

About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meaning and cultural context drawn from classical sources: Lisan al-Arab, Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Qur'an and Sunnah. If you spot an error, please let us know.