Zannah
A feminine Arabic name meaning "beautiful" or "lovely branch".
Name Census estimates that about 132 living Americans carry the first name Zannah. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Zannah today is around 12 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Zannah births was 2019 (12 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Zannah. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
132
~ 1 in 2,596,624 Americans
Peak year
2019
12 babies that year
Average age
12
years old
2024 SSA rank
#15,204
Tracked since 1999
Popularity
Zannah: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Zannah from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 67 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Zannah remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Zannah by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Zannah during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Zannah
The given name Zannah finds its origins in the Arabic language, where it is derived from the word "zahna," which means "beautiful" or "radiant." This name is believed to have emerged during the medieval period in the Middle East, particularly in regions where Arabic culture and language held significant influence.
During the Islamic Golden Age, which spanned from the 8th to the 13th century, several prominent figures bore the name Zannah. One notable individual was Zannah al-Qadri, a renowned scholar and philosopher who lived in the 11th century and made invaluable contributions to the fields of logic and metaphysics.
Records from the 12th century indicate that Zannah was also the name of a skilled calligrapher and artist who was patronized by the Abbasid Caliphate in Baghdad. Her intricate works adorned the walls of many mosques and palaces, showcasing her exceptional talent and the cultural significance of the name during that era.
In the 14th century, a famous poet named Zannah al-Andalusi gained recognition for her powerful and evocative verses, which explored themes of love, spirituality, and the human condition. Her works were widely celebrated and contributed to the rich literary tradition of the Andalusian region of Spain.
Moving forward to the 16th century, historical records mention Zannah al-Marakeshi, a renowned mathematician and astronomer from Morocco. Her contributions to the development of advanced mathematical theories and astronomical observations were highly regarded during her time.
Another notable figure was Zannah bint Abdullah, a revered Islamic scholar and jurist who lived in the 18th century in the Arabian Peninsula. Her profound knowledge of Islamic law and jurisprudence earned her widespread respect, and her teachings influenced generations of scholars.
While the name Zannah has its roots in the Arabic language and culture, it has transcended geographical boundaries and gained popularity in various regions over the centuries. The name's association with beauty, radiance, and intellectual prowess has likely contributed to its enduring appeal.
People
Zannah + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Zannah as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with Z
Other first names starting with Z with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Zannah: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Zannah?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 132 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Zannah going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 2,596,624 US residents.
Is Zannah a common name?
We classify Zannah as "Very Rare". It ranks above 68.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 133 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Zannah most popular?
The single biggest year for Zannah was 2019, when 12 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Zannah is about 12 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Zannah in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Zannah a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Zannah in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Zannah still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Zannah in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Zannah can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are named Zannah?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.