Zehra
A girl's name of Arabic origin with 705 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
a female given name
Zehra is a girl's baby name of Arabic origin meaning 'radiant, bright, flowering,' from the Arabic zahara (to shine, to flower, to radiate). In Islamic tradition, Zahra is one of the titles of Fatimah, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad — making this a name of profound religious significance in Shia Islam.
Zehra is the Turkish form of Zahra, used extensively in Turkey and among Turkish diaspora communities. Its -ra ending and bright meaning make it a luminous, spiritually charged name.
EtymologyShow more
Phonetically, Zehra belongs to a cluster of names characterized by their open, warm ending — a soft ending that crosses many language boundaries. At two syllables, it has a two-beat rhythm that is easy to call across a room and natural in conversation.
Within the Arabic naming tradition, names with similar sound structures often share underlying etymological patterns. Exploring Arabic names on this site may surface connections that illuminate Zehra’s linguistic neighborhood.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Zehra climbed 1688 spots in the last 20 years — from #7825 to #6137.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 111 | #5790 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 236 | #5824 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 173 | #7172 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 120 | #8600 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 59 | #9659 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 6 | #9647 | — |
The Story of Zehra
A Gen Alpha name
Peaking in 2013, Zehra is a fresh, modern favorite. Girls named Zehra are most likely born between 2003 and 2023.
How rare is Zehra?
Only about 1 in every 180,000 babies born in 2024 was named Zehra — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1977, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 2010s with 236 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Zehra by the numbers
- Would fill 15 school buses
- Meeting one Zehra per day would take 1.9 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(44 years, 1977–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 20 | #6137 |
| 2023 | 21 | #5950 |
| 2022 | 25 | #5303 |
| 2021 | 18 | #6685 |
| 2020 | 27 | #4873 |
| 2019 | 25 | #5303 |
| 2018 | 25 | #5310 |
| 2017 | 20 | #6282 |
| 2016 | 20 | #6394 |
| 2015 | 22 | #6028 |
| 2014 | 19 | #6705 |
| 2013 | 33 | #4419 |
| 2012 | 32 | #4598 |
| 2011 | 20 | #6562 |
| 2010 | 20 | #6635 |
| 2009 | 15 | #8447 |
| 2008 | 15 | #8521 |
| 2007 | 17 | #7728 |
| 2006 | 22 | #6122 |
| 2005 | 18 | #6814 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zehra a boy's or girl's name?
When was Zehra most popular?
How popular is the name Zehra?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1977–2024