The story behind Zia
Borrowed from Arabic ضِيَاء (ḍiyāʔ, “light”) via Spanish.
Pronunciation
General-American: /ˈzi.ə/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Received-Pronunciation: /ˈziː.ə/
Popularity
Zia ranked #1477 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Zia
Zara
A 20th-century variant of Sarah, or explained as Arabic زَهْرَة (zahra, “flower”); given to the daughter of Princess Anne in 1981.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Zehra
From Arabic زهرة (“flower”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Zelma
A female given name from Arabic, variant of Selma.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Zulma
Possibly from Arabic سُلَيْمَان (sulaymān, “Solomon”); see that entry for more. The name is popular in Latin America because of an Argentine actress of that name.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Huda
Borrowed from Arabic هُدًى (hudan, “guidance”)
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Isa
Transliteration of Arabic عِيسَى (ʕīsā) or anglicized from Turkish İsa, both equivalents of Jesus as a given name. Transliteration of Arabic عِيسَى (ʕīsā) or anglicized from…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Zia
Fahd
Borrowed from Arabic فَهْد (fahd).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends D
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Hind
Borrowed from Arabic هِنْد (hind).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends D
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Leya
Borrowed from Turkish Leya and Arabic لَيْيَا (layyā).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Zia
Abed
From Arabic عَابِد (ʕābid, “servant, worshipper”)
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends D
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Adam
Middle English Adam English Adam From Middle English Adam, from Old English Adam, from Latin Adam, Adamus, from Ancient Greek Ἀδάμ (Adám), Ἄδαμος (Ádamos), from Biblical Hebrew…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Adel
Ultimately from Proto-Germanic *aþalaz. The female name is a rare variant of Adele. The surname is borrowed from German Adel. Variant of Adil, from Arabic عَادِل (ʕādil).
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection