Zainab

Syllable breakdown

Name meaning and origin

Origin

Malay/Malaysian

Meaning

a feminine name of great Islamic resonance used extensively in Malaysian Muslim communities and across the entire Islamic world, from the Arabic Zaynab — a name whose origin is debated, possibly meaning a fragrant tree or a type of ornamental plant; Zaynab was the name of the Prophet Muhammad's daughter, his granddaughter through Ali and Fatima, and his first wife Khadijah's daughter from a previous marriage, making it one of the most honoured names in the Islamic tradition; in Malaysia the name is pronounced with characteristically Malay phonology, with stress on the first syllable and a short final vowel; Zainab is among the most traditionally popular feminine names in Malaysia, carrying both religious honour and aesthetic beauty that make it a perennial favourite

Gender

female

Also spelled

Zaynab, Zainab, Zaenab