Naming your children based on a letter can go a few ways. One option is to ensure your children’s initials spell something specific. This means you might need to give them a first and middle name with a particular letter you’ve previously decided on. Another option is to give all your kids a name that starts with the same letter. Maybe everyone in the family has a name that starts with that letter. Yet another way to go about it is to decide if you want popular names or unique names and let those letters guide you. Names that start with “Z” are largely unique, so by choosing this letter, there’s a good chance your child will have a name that stands out among their friends and classmates. Keep reading for some inspiration on giving your child a moniker that starts with the letter “Z,” both very popular and not-so popular options, as well as their origins, meanings, and most famous namesakes.
Zachary
Origin: Hebrew Meaning: God has remembered Alternative Spellings & Variations: Zackary, Zach, Zac, Zack Famous Namesakes: Actors Zach Braff, Zac Efron, and Zach Galifianakis all share this name. Peak Popularity: Zachary has long been a popular name but it peaked in 1994.
Zahara
Origin: Arabic Meaning: Flower Famous Namesakes: One of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s daughters is named Zahara. Peak Popularity: Zahara hasn’t yet cracked the list of popular baby names in the United States.
Zahir
Origin: ArabicMeaning: EvidentPeak Popularity: Zahir peaked in 2021.
Zaid
Origin: ArabicMeaning: HappyAlternative Spellings & Variations: Said, ZaydPeak Popularity: Zaid saw its biggest year in 2018.
Zainab
Origin: ArabicMeaning: HandsomeAlternative Spellings & Variations: ZaynabFamous Namesakes: Upload actress Zainab Johnson is one of the most well-known people with this name.Peak Popularity: Zainab’s most popular year was 2017.
Zaire
Origin: African Meaning: River Peak Popularity: Zaire has recently grown in popularity, seeing it’s biggest year in 2021.
Zan
Origin: SlavicMeaning: God is graciousAlternative Spellings & Variations: XanPeak Popularity: Zan does not appear on the most popular baby names list.
Zaniyah
Origin: AztecMeaning: ForeverPeak Popularity: Zaniyah’s biggest year was 2014.
Zara
Origin: English Meaning: Princess Alternative Spellings & Variations: Zarah, Zahra Famous Namesakes: British royal Zara Phillips is one of the most famous people with this name. Peak Popularity: Zara has seen a boom in popularity in the 2000s, and its biggest year was 2021.
Zariah
Origin: AmericanMeaning: PrincessPeak Popularity: Zariah peaked in 2018.
Zayden
Origin: AmericanMeaning: IncreasingAlternative Spellings & Variations: ZadenPeak Popularity: Zayden’s biggest year was 2016.
Zayn
Origin: ArabicMeaning: BeautifulAlternative Spellings & Variations: Zane, ZainFamous Namesakes: Singer Zayn Malik is one of the most famous people with this name.Peak Popularity: Zayn has been a popular name in the 2010s, getting bigger and bigger every year.
Zazie
Origin: HebrewMeaning: MovementFamous Namesakes: Actress Zazie Beetz is one of the most popular people with this name.Peak Popularity: Zazie has not yet appeared on the popular baby names list in the U.S.
Zed
Origin: EnglishMeaning: God is righteousnessAlternative Spellings & Variations: ZeddFamous Namesakes: DJ Anton Zaslavski, better known as Zedd, goes by this name.Peak Popularity: Zed hasn’t cracked the popular baby names list yet.
Zeke
Origin: HebrewMeaning: God will strengthenPeak Popularity: Zeke’s biggest year was 2017.
Zelda
Origin: German Meaning: Strong woman Famous Namesakes: Writer Zelda Fitzgerald and actress Zelda Williams Peak Popularity: Zelda is an old-fashioned name popular in the early 1900s.
Zendaya
Origin: AfricanMeaning: To give thanksFamous Namesakes: Euphoria star Zendaya is a well-known person with this name.Peak Popularity: Zendaya reached its peak popularity in 2015.
Zenith
Origin: EnglishMeaning: The very topPeak Popularity: Zenith does not appear in the U.S. popular baby names list.
Zenobia
Origin: Greek Meaning: Life of Zeus Peak Popularity: Zenobia’s biggest year was 1902.
Zeus
Origin: GreekMeaning: GodFamous Namesakes: Greek god Zeus is by far the most famous usage of this name.Peak Popularity: Zeus hasn’t found a spot on the popular baby names list yet.
Zhang
Origin: Chinese Meaning: Archer Peak Popularity: Zhang is not on the popular baby names list in the U.S.
Zinia
Origin: ArabicMeaning: Brilliant flowerPeak Popularity: Zinia isn’t in the popular baby names list in the U.S. yet.
Zion
Origin: HebrewMeaning: IsraelPeak Popularity: Zion grows in popularity every year, seeing its peak in 2021.
Zoey
Origin: GreekMeaning: LifeAlternative Spellings & Variations: Zoe, ZooeyFamous Namesakes: Actresses Zoe Saldana and Zooey Deschanel share this name.Peak Popularity: Zoey peaked in 2012 but still remains popular.
Zohar
Origin: HebrewMeaning: LightPeak Popularity: Zohar doesn’t appear in the top baby names list.
Zola
Origin: Latin Meaning: Earth Peak Popularity: Zola peaked in 1901 but has seen a resurgence in popularity in the 2000s.
Zora
Origin: SlavicMeaning: DawnFamous Namesakes: Author Zora Neale Hurston is one of the most well-known people with this name.Peak Popularity: Zora peaked in 1900.
Zuleima
Origin: HebrewMeaning: PeaceAlternative Spellings & Variations: ZulemaPeak Popularity: Zuleima hasn’t made the top baby names list in the U.S.
Zuma
Origin: AztecMeaning: Lord frowns in angerFamous Namesakes: Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale named one of their sons Zuma.Peak Popularity: Zuma does not appear in the top baby names.
Zuri
Origin: SwahiliMeaning: BeautifulAlternative Spellings & Variations: SuriFamous Namesakes: Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes’ daughter’s name is Suri.Peak Popularity: Zuri continues to see growth in popularity, peaking in 2021.
