Zarah
Zarah was the 1435th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 151 babies. Its best year was 2022, when it ranked 1219th with 199 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 295 places. More babies were named Zarah in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Zara) Origin uncertain · Hebrew, Arabic, English
- Rank in 2025
- #1,435 girls, up 82 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 151girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2022199 babies
- Total since 1880
- 2,957babies recorded
What does the name Zarah mean?
Zarah is a spelling of Zara, pronounced the same way, so it shares Zara's meaning and origin.
Zara has more than one explanation. Wiktionary describes it as a 20th-century variant of Sarah, or as explained by Arabic zahra, 'flower', and notes that it became widely known when Princess Anne gave it to her daughter in 1981. Wikipedia adds that it is often linked with the biblical Zerah, though that connection is not well supported. Because the sources disagree, we do not give a single meaning.
שָׂרָה (Biblical Hebrew, “Sarah, princess”)زَهْرَة (Arabic, “zahra, flower”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. A variant of Sarah or linked with Arabic 'flower'; not settled.
Related names: Sarah, Zahra, Zaria, Sara.
See also: Hebrew names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Zara', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Zara (name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Zarah popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,435 | 151 |
| 2020 | #1,517 | 141 |
| 2010 | #2,117 | 94 |
| 2000 | #3,737 | 35 |
| 1990 | #5,548 | 17 |
| 1980 | #6,318 | 11 |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Zarah, counting every spelling?
Zarah is a spelling of Zara, a name family that ranked #216 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #1,435 for Zarah on its own. Together these spellings went to 1,607 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zara | 1,432 | #212 | 6,904 |
| Zarah | 151 | #1,435 | 838 |
| Zaara | 17 | #6,824 | 145 |
| Zarrah | 7 | #13,174 | 43 |
| Zarra | — | — | 34 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Zarah?
151 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Zarah (0.04 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Zarah born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 56 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Zarah.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Zarah?
About 2,900 people born in the US named Zarah are alive today, with a median age of 10; half are between 5 and 18. That makes Zarah a young name: most people with it are children.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Zarah by state
How common Zarah was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Virginia (2.3×), Maryland (2.0×), Pennsylvania (1.8×), Georgia (1.8×), Florida (1.6×). In 31 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Zarah: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Zarah, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Zarah
What does Zarah mean?
The origin of Zara is uncertain: a variant of Sarah or linked with Arabic 'flower'; not settled.
How popular is the name Zarah?
Zarah was the 1435th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 151 babies. Its best year was 2022, when it ranked 1219th with 199 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 295 places. More babies were named Zarah in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Zarah a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Zarah in the US.
Where is Zarah most popular?
In 2021–2025, Zarah was most common in Virginia (0.24 per 1,000 girls), followed by Maryland and Pennsylvania.