What does Zaynab mean?
Zaynab is the name of a fragrant flowering plant; borne by daughters of the Prophet.
What does Huda mean?
Huda means “right guidance” in Arabic.
Zaynab vs Huda
Which is more popular?
Zaynab is more popular than Huda today: about 144 US babies were given the name Zaynab in 2025, compared with 117 named Huda.
| Zaynab | Huda | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Fragrant flower | Guidance |
| Origin | Arabic | Arabic |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | ZAY-nab | HOO-dah |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1982 | 1976 |
| Peak year | 2016 (146) | 2025 (117) |
| In 2025 | 144 | 117 |
| Trend | Rising | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Zaynab
Huda
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Zaynab | Huda |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 774 | 479 |
| 2010s | 1,051 | 600 |
| 2000s | 466 | 518 |
| 1990s | 181 | 277 |
| 1980s | 37 | 125 |
| 1970s | 0 | 22 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Zaynab or Huda more popular?
Zaynab is more popular than Huda today: about 144 US babies were given the name Zaynab in 2025, compared with 117 named Huda.
What is the difference between Zaynab and Huda?
Zaynab means Fragrant flower (Arabic origin), while Huda means Guidance (Arabic origin).
Which name is older, Zaynab or Huda?
In US records, Zaynab first appears in 1982 and Huda in 1976, so Huda has the longer recorded history.