Fun Facts About the Name Zehra
- 729 babies named Zehra: U.S. records list 729 babies given the name Zehra from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Zehra Mean?
Zehra is a Turkish and South Slavic form of the Arabic name Zahrā' (زهراء), meaning "bright," "shining," or "radiant." It derives from the Arabic root z-h-r, the same root behind zahra (زهرة), "flower" or "blossom," and the adjective azhar (أزهر), "bright, brilliant." The feminine form Zahrā' describes a woman who is luminous or resplendent. The Turkish spelling Zehra drops the hamza of the Arabic form and uses a front vowel in place of the Arabic a; the name appears as Zahra in Arabic and Persian and as Zehra in Bosnian and Albanian.
Zehra Name History & Origins
The name is best known through Fatimah al-Zahra', the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad, who is honored in Islamic tradition by the epithet al-Zahrā', "the radiant." Traditional accounts explain the title as a reference to her brightness or radiance, though the specific reasoning behind the epithet is reported in varying ways. This religious association carried forms of the name across the Muslim world.
Zehra entered Turkish through the Arabic Zahrā', and its Turkish spelling and pronunciation reshaped the name; it fits the wider pattern of Turkish renderings of Arabic names with front vowels, such as Zeynep from Zaynab. From Turkish it passed into Bosnian, Albanian, and other Balkan Muslim communities, where it remains a common given name. In Arabic-speaking countries the usual written forms are Zahra or Zahraa, and Persian uses Zahra.
How Popular is the Name Zehra?
Zehra has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2013. Its best rank was #4,419 in 2013.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #5,403 | 24 | 0.0015% |
| 2024 | #6,137 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 2023 | #5,950 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 2022 | #5,303 | 25 | 0.0015% |
| 2021 | #6,685 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 2020 | #4,873 | 27 | 0.0017% |
| 2019 | #5,303 | 25 | 0.0015% |
| 2018 | #5,310 | 25 | 0.0015% |
| 2017 | #6,282 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 2016 | #6,394 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2015 | #6,028 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2014 | #6,705 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2013 | #4,419 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 2012 | #4,598 | 32 | 0.0018% |
| 2011 | #6,562 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2010 | #6,635 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2009 | #8,447 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2008 | #8,521 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2007 | #7,728 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2006 | #6,122 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2005 | #6,814 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2004 | #7,825 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2003 | #7,994 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2002 | #5,443 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2001 | #6,617 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2000 | #6,206 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1999 | #6,480 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1998 | #6,068 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1997 | #4,658 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1996 | #10,562 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1995 | #9,549 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1994 | #13,424 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1993 | #6,264 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1992 | #9,484 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1991 | #10,268 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1990 | #9,243 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1989 | #8,757 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1988 | #10,380 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1987 | #7,353 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1986 | #12,828 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1985 | #9,300 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1984 | #7,396 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1981 | #9,105 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1980 | #12,156 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1977 | #9,647 | 6 | 0.0004% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Zehra Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have aspiration and inspiration, hope and guidance. Since you are intuitive and perceptive and you understand human nature. You have the power to achieve. Diplomacy and discretion make you a good mediator. You are inspired, introspective, and have a good understanding of the human heart. You can have the ability to commercialize your artistic talents successfully. You are often a mystery to others and to yourself. You are always reaching for something higher, without exactly knowing what that "higher" is. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.
✦ Zehra's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Zehra's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.