Zaynab
Meaningfragrant plant · Arabic
Zaynab is an Arabic girl name meaning “fragrant plant”. Arabic names are often chosen for a virtue or a blessing parents hope their child will carry. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds crisp and confident, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Did you know?
- Hidden namesLook closely: Zaynab has the name Zayn hiding inside it.
- Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Zaynab would score 20 points, thanks largely to the Z (worth 10). A high-scoring name!
- GenerationZaynab is having its moment right now. Most Zaynabs are still in diapers or at preschool, so picture a Gen Alpha or Gen Beta kid.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Zaynab would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 11,161 baby girls got the name in 2025.
- HistoryZaynab first shows up in US birth records in 1982, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 43 years since.
- Where it's lovedWant to meet a lot of Zaynabs? Head to New York, where it's the #658 girl name, its best showing of any state.
US births per million girls, 1982–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Zaynab
Zaynab is a girl name of Arabic origin meaning “fragrant plant”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the consonant at the end gives it a confident finish. It has been around for generations, yet it's never been more loved than it is today. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Arabic names
Other spellings of Zaynab
More Arabic girl names
- Girl name: Eleanor · possibly light
- Girl name: Layla · night
- Girl name: Lyla · night
- Girl name: Aaliyah · exalted
- Girl name: Amira · princess
- Girl name: Lilly · lily flower
- Girl name: Leila · night
- Girl name: Aliyah · ascent
Questions about the name Zaynab
What does the name Zaynab mean?
Zaynab means “fragrant plant” and comes from Arabic. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Zainab (“possibly fragrant plant”), Marwa (“fragrant plant”), Zeinab (“fragrant plant”) and Kayo (“often fragrant era”).
What is the origin of the name Zaynab?
Zaynab is Arabic in origin. Other Arabic names to consider are Eleanor (“possibly light”), Layla (“night”), Lyla (“night”) and Aaliyah (“exalted”).
Is Zaynab a boy or girl name?
Zaynab is a girl name. In 2025, 144 US girls were named Zaynab.
How popular is the name Zaynab?
Zaynab ranked #1,484 for US girls in 2025, given to 144 babies. That's its best rank ever: the name is at the height of its popularity right now. Over the last five years it has climbed 297 places.
What names are similar to Zaynab?
If you like Zaynab, you might also like Zainab, Marwa, Zeinab and Kayo. Zainab is another spelling of the same name.
What should I know before naming my baby Zaynab?
Zaynab is an Arabic girl name meaning “fragrant plant”. Arabic names are often chosen for a virtue or a blessing parents hope their child will carry. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds crisp and confident, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.