Is Zia a boy's or girl's name?

Zia is primarily a girl's name. It is also used as a boy's name, with 311 recorded births.

When was Zia most popular?

Zia reached its peak popularity in 2024 with 198 births that year. It is currently ranked #1195 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Zia?

Zia is currently ranked #1195 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 3,080 babies since 1976.

Zia

An uncommon Arabic pick — distinctive and rare.

Girl's name| Also boysArabicRising fast Also a pet name

#1195▲ 66in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A male given name from Arabic popular among Muslims.

Zia is a girl's and boy's baby name of Arabic origin, meaning 'light, radiance, splendor' — from Arabic ḍiyāʾ (light, brilliance). It is also a feminine name in Italian meaning 'aunt,' and appears in various other cultural traditions.

Cross-cultural and luminously meaningful, Zia has a gentle, radiant quality that works in Arabic, Italian, Hebrew, and American naming contexts. It's become a popular choice for parents seeking a short, striking name with a brilliantly positive meaning — the kind of name that is immediately complete and needs nothing added to it.

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Popularity Over Time

Zia climbed 1585 spots in the last 20 years — from #2780 to #1195.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Zia
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	875	#1310	▼
2010s	1,303	#1694	▲
2000s	646	#2745	▲
1990s	201	#5694	▲
1980s	50	#10029	▲
1970s	5	#10909	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(43 years, 1976–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Zia
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	198	#1195	+15 (8.2%)
2023	183	#1261	+2 (1.1%)
2022	181	#1307	+29 (19.1%)
2021	152	#1425	-9 (-5.6%)
2020	161	#1360	-31 (-16.1%)
2019	192	#1226	+50 (35.2%)
2018	142	#1539	+23 (19.3%)
2017	119	#1769	-24 (-16.8%)
2016	143	#1565	+13 (10.0%)
2015	130	#1653	+8 (6.6%)
2014	122	#1727	-13 (-9.6%)
2013	135	#1598	+6 (4.7%)
2012	129	#1662	+20 (18.3%)
2011	109	#1856	+27 (32.9%)
2010	82	#2340	-13 (-13.7%)
2009	95	#2138	+24 (33.8%)
2008	71	#2628	-28 (-28.3%)
2007	99	#2070	+20 (25.3%)
2006	79	#2394	+28 (54.9%)
2005	51	#3124	-8 (-13.6%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Zia as a Boy's Name

While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Zia has also been given to 311 boys in the U.S. since 1985.

#6808

Current rank

311

Total births

2022

Peak year

Compare Zia as girl vs boy

Frequently Asked

Can Zia be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Zia is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name, it currently ranks #1195. As a boy's name, it ranks #6808.

Zia has two lives

Zia, the baby name

#1195girls

3,080 babies

Currently viewing

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1976–2024) · Methodology

Zia