Zainab Name Meaning

In Lisan al-Arab, the zaynab is a tree fair to look at and sweet-smelling, and women were named after it.

Root: زنب
Name: Girl's name
Also written: Zaynab · Zenab · زينب

The story of the name, from the sources

In Lisan al-Arab, Ibn al-Arabi says the zaynab is a tree, fair to look at and sweet-smelling, and women were named after it.
“The zaynab is a tree, fair to look at, sweet-smelling, and women were named after it”
Ibn al-Arabi
Lisan al-Arab · vol. 1, p. 453 · al-Qamus al-Muhit · vol. 1, p. 95
But the scholars did not agree. Abu Amr says it comes from zanab, plumpness. Al-Qamus says it may first have been zayn ab, a father's adornment. Taj al-Arus calls it a coined name. And there are other views.
they did not agree
“zanab is plumpness” · Abu Amr
“or it was first zayn ab”, a father’s adornment
“Zaynab is a coined name” · Abu al-Fath
Lisan al-Arab · vol. 1, p. 453 · al-Qamus al-Muhit · vol. 1, p. 95 · Taj al-Arus · vol. 3, pp. 26–28
The eldest daughter of the Prophet, peace be upon him, was Zaynab. In Sahih Muslim, Zaynab bint Abi Salama says: my name was Barra, and the Messenger of God named me Zaynab. He did the same for the Mother of the Believers, Zaynab bint Jahsh.
“My name was Barra, and the Messenger ﷺ named me Zaynab”
Zaynab bint Abi Salama
“Zaynab bint Jahsh, whose name was Barra, came to him, and he named her Zaynab”
Sahih Muslim 2142 · Ibn Sa’d, al-Tabaqat · vol. 8, p. 25
He told his wives: the first of you to join me will be the one with the longest hand. Aisha said: Zaynab had the longest hand of us, for she worked with her hand and gave in charity.
“Zaynab had the longest hand of us, for she worked with her hand and gave in charity”
Aisha
Zaynab bint Khuzayma “was called the Mother of the Poor”
Sahih Muslim 2452 · al-Isaba · vol. 8, p. 157

In short

زَيْنَب

a sweet-smelling tree, a name the Prophet ﷺ gave, and a long hand in giving

زَيْنَب

A keepsake of the name Zainab

A printable piece: Zainab in Arabic calligraphy, its root, and the dictionary line it comes from, with the book, volume and page.

Questions about the name Zainab

What does the name Zainab mean?

In Lisan al-Arab, Ibn al-Arabi says the zaynab is a tree fair to look at and sweet-smelling, and women were named after it; the dictionaries do not agree on other origins. In the film: a name the Prophet ﷺ gave (Sahih Muslim 2142), and “the longest hand” (Sahih Muslim 2452).

How do you write Zainab in Arabic?

Zainab is written زينب in Arabic; also spelled Zaynab, Zenab.

What is the root of the name Zainab?

In the Arabic dictionaries, Zainab goes back to the root ز · ن · ب.

How we researched it

18 books searched · 35 passages read

Lisan al-Arab
al-Qamus al-Muhit
Taj al-Arus
Sahih Muslim
al-Tabaqat al-Kubra
al-Isaba

References, by volume and page

Lisan al-Arab · vol. 1, p. 453 · al-Qamus al-Muhit · vol. 1, p. 95
Lisan al-Arab · vol. 1, p. 453 · al-Qamus al-Muhit · vol. 1, p. 95 · Taj al-Arus · vol. 3, pp. 26–28
Sahih Muslim 2142 · Ibn Sa’d, al-Tabaqat · vol. 8, p. 25
Sahih Muslim 2452 · al-Isaba · vol. 8, p. 157

We never write “personality traits” of a name, luck or numerology: the dictionaries say nothing of the kind. We give the meaning as the book gives it, and name the book, volume and page.