Zahara

From WikiName

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[edit] ORIGIN AND HISTORY

Zahara is an Arabic and Swahili^[1] name that means "bright,"^[2] "shining,"^[3] or "flowering."^[4] The original form of the name was Zahra.^[5]

Zahara may also have roots in the Hebrew language, from the name Zohara, which means "light" and "splendor."^[6] Zahara may also possibly have evolved as a variation of the Hebrew name Sarah, which means "princess."

Zahara may also be an alternative spelling of Sahara.^[7]

[edit] POPULARITY

In the United States, Zahara is an uncommon name. It has not appeared in the top 1000 most popular girls' names in any recorded year.^[8] With the recent publicity of the name because of Zahara Jolie-Pitt, and the current trend to employ "exotic" letters such as "z," "x" and "y" in names, Zahara could see more usage in coming years.

In Australia, Zahara is a moderately popular name. In 2002, Zahara ranked as the 683rd most popular girl's name in Australia.^[9]

[edit] FACTS

• Zahara Jolie-Pitt's name at birth was Yemsrach.^[10] She was born in Ethiopia, and the name Yemsrach means "good news" in the local language.^[11]
• The Spanish village Zahara de la Sierra takes its name from all the blossoming orange trees that line the streets.^[12]

[edit] NAMESAKES

• Skeletons on the Zahara: A True Story of Survival by Dean King
• Zahara Properties, Miami Beach, Costa Rica
• Zahara de la Sierra, Andalucia, Spain

[edit] FAMOUS PERSONS

• Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt: adopted daughter of actors Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt (born January 8, 2005)
• Zahara Schatz: Israeli artist (born 1916)
• Zahara: bellydancer

• Alex Zahara: actor
• Lesley Zahara: art and photography agent

Author: Sarena Emily Levinson

[edit] NOTES

1. ↑ http://www.first-name-meanings.co.uk/zahra-zahara-name-meaning.html
2. ↑ http://www.behindthename.com/name/zahra
3. ↑ http://babynamesworld.parentsconnect.com/meaning_of_Zahara.html
4. ↑ http://www.thinkbabynames.com/search.php?s=zahara&g=0&t=1
5. ↑ http://babynamesworld.parentsconnect.com/meaning_of_Zahara.html
6. ↑ Wallace, Carol McD. The Greatest Baby Name Book Ever. New York: Avon, 1998. p 676.
7. ↑ http://www.amazon.com/Skeletons-Zahara-True-Story-Survival/dp/0316835145
8. ↑ http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/
9. ↑ http://www.yeahbaby.com/world-name-popularity.php?name=Zahara
10. ↑ http://de.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=8fab4a5f-4cfa-402e-a2c8-bafde7ebdbfe&entry=index
11. ↑ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1569961/Angelina-Jolie's-adopted-baby-'result-of-rape'.html
12. ↑ http://www.upbustleandout.co.uk/zahara/sierra/sierra.htm