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Zia

Girl / Boy name · 19 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Zia: 19 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to both boys and girls, peaking at 5 births in 2009.

Zia has several origins, but for English and Scottish speakers the most familiar is Arabic, where it means "light" or "splendour," a radiant choice found across many Muslim cultures. It also appears as a short form of Italian names like Lucrezia or the Persian Ziya. Notable bearers include the celebrated Pakistani actor Zia Mohyeddin, known for his stage and screen work, and the Bangladeshi-British novelist Zia Haider Rahman. While no major place is named directly after a bearer, the related Turkish variant Ziya appears as a given name and a surname. In modern Scotland, Zia has been a quiet but steady presence since the 1970s, appealing to parents who want a short, luminous name with cross‑cultural warmth and a timeless feel.