
The short answer
Zainab is a feminine name used in Arabic and Urdu. Behind the Name describes it this way: "Alternate transcription of Arabic زينب (see Zaynab), as well as the usual form in several languages." It ranked #810 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, alternate transcription of Arabic زينب (see Zaynab), as well as the usual form in several languages. The entry lists its usage as Arabic, Urdu, Hausa, Malay and others.
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Zainab ranked #810 for girls in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #810 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (Arabic) and that sit near Zainab in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Zainab mean?
Behind the Name does not give Zainab a one-word meaning. It describes the name as follows: alternate transcription of Arabic زينب.
Is Zainab a popular name?
Zainab ranked #810 for girls in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Zainab a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Zainab appears in the girls' list; Behind the Name labels it feminine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Zainab — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.