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Dog Names That Start With Z

  1. Zelia

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "zealous, ardent"

    • Description:

      An appealing name almost unknown in our culture but with roots in several others; worldlier than cousins Celia and Delia.
  2. Zack

    • Origin:

      Short form of Zachary or Zachariah

    • Description:

      As the common short form of Zachary or, more unusually, Zachariah, Zack is less intuitive than Zach or Zac in terms of spelling but clearer in terms of pronunciations. Maybe because it rhymes with Jack and Mack, it also feels more complete as a name. Some people also use Zack and brothers as a short form of Isaac.
  3. Zeppelin

    • Origin:

      German word name from Slavic

    • Meaning:

      "zeppelin; flail"

    • Description:

      In a baby name landscape where word names and names that start with Z are infinitely cool, there are few options for parents who want to combine trends. Zeppelin is one of the best names at the intersection of these two styles, and it's rising alongside the likes of Zen, Zephyr, and Zenith.
  4. Zahara

    • Origin:

      Hebrew; Swahili

    • Meaning:

      "to shine; flower"

    • Description:

      Zahara, a delicate but strong multicultural name, came into the spotlight when Angelina Jolie bestowed it on her Ethiopian-born daughter, and we predict other parents will adopt it as well. If you want something simpler than Zahara, consider Zara, a royal name in England--but also the name of a Spanish-based clothing store chain.
  5. Zaha

    • Description:

      Zaha is a distinctive feminine name with multiple cultural connections. It has Arabic origins where it can mean 'brilliant' or 'shining,' carrying connotations of brightness and radiance. The name gained international recognition through the renowned Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid, whose innovative designs brought prominence to this formerly obscure name. In some African traditions, particularly Swahili, Zaha can also have meaningful connections. The name's brevity and symmetrical construction give it a modern, streamlined quality, while the soft 'z' and open 'a' sounds create a melodic flow. Despite its growing recognition, Zaha remains relatively uncommon in Western countries, making it distinctive without being difficult to pronounce. Parents might choose this name for its multicultural resonance, artistic associations, and beautiful meaning, as well as its elegant simplicity that works well across language boundaries.

  6. Zazie

    • Origin:

      French

    • Description:

      This jazzy French diminutive of Isabelle was first made famous by the title character of Raymond Queneau’s novel Zazie dans le métro, which was adapted into a film in 1960. It could also work as a nickname for Elizabeth or Susannah.
  7. Zoltan

    • Origin:

      Hungarian

    • Meaning:

      "sultan"

    • Description:

      Though a common name in Hungary, with the spelling Zoltán, the relatively rare Z sound is striking to English speakers. Penn Gillette used the Zolten spelling for his son; it was also the name of Dracula's dog, and was also a robotic character in Dude, Where's My Car?.
  8. Zion

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "highest point"

    • Description:

      A Biblical place name and a unisex choice that has been on the rise in the US in recent years. With its bright sound and cool, zippy Z beginning, it blends religious significance and trendiness.
  9. Zebedee

    • Origin:

      English variation of Hebrew Zebediah

    • Meaning:

      "gift of God"

    • Description:

      Zebedee is an adorable and unusual New Testament name--which may sound like but is not a contradiction in terms. Unlike some of the longer biblical Z-names, Zebedee has a more lighthearted usability, with its gleeful ee-ending. And Zeb makes a fabulous nickname.
  10. Zahra

    • Origin:

      Arabic

    • Meaning:

      "flower"

    • Description:

      Abbreviated form of Zahara that was used by Chris Rock for his daughter and as a middle name by both Eddie Murphy and David Bowie. Compared with the even-more-abbreviated Zara, Zahra may create more spelling problems but clarify pronunciation.
  11. Zaria

    • Origin:

      African place-name, variant of Zahra, Arabic

    • Meaning:

      "rose; to shine, to bloom"

    • Description:

      Zaria, the name of the Nigerian capital city, could be another Z name for parents to consider. It currently ranks lower than variations Zariah and Zariyah.
  12. Zeb

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Zebediah or Zebulon, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "gift of God, exaltation, or little dwelling"

    • Description:

      Short and to-the-point, it turns an ancient biblical name into a friendly cowboy.
  13. Zenobia

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "force of Zeus"

    • Description:

      With historical roots as a beautiful and intelligent ancient queen and literary ties to Hawthorne and Edith Wharton novels, this rarity could appeal to adventurous parents seeking the romantically unusual. Tina Fey used it as her daughter Alice's middle name.
  14. Zealand

    • Origin:

      English place name from Dutch

    • Meaning:

      "sea land"

    • Description:

      Sunny and energetic, but with a hint of cool cowboy, Zealand has been sparingly used since the 2000s, Zealand but shot up the charts in 2021 after YouTube family The Labrants gave it to their son the previous year. By 2022, it had quadrupled in popularity, revealing the influence celebs can make on baby name choices.
  15. Zeus

    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name

    • Description:

      The supreme Olympian god represents a mighty image for a little fella to live up to, but more and more parents are beginning to consider it seriously. The Roman equivalent Jupiter has also come down to earth. And Zeus wasn't just the supreme god, he was also the god of the sky, thunder, lightning, and fate, among other weighty responsibilities.
  16. Zan

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Alexander, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "defending men"

    • Description:

      There's Zan and there's Xan--take your pick. Both of these are the latest generation of Alexander nicknames, Xan having been noticed first as a character on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (a rich source of names), and soon phoneticized into Zan.
  17. Zebediah

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "gift of Jehovah"

    • Description:

      Biblical names are expanding (literally) as some parents move from Isaiah and Elijah to more elaborate choices with simple short forms, like Jedidiah and Zebediah.
  18. Zuleika

    • Origin:

      Arabic

    • Meaning:

      "fair, brilliant beauty"

    • Description:

      Zuleika is a high-wire act of a name that might appeal to the intrepid baby namer, Like most 'Z'-starting girls' names, it projects a cool, strong aura, as exemplified by the character in Max Beerbohm's satirical 1910 novel, Zuleika Dobson, a heroine so gorgeous that the entire student body of Oxford University committed collective suicide at the sight of her.
  19. Zendaya

    • Origin:

      Shona

    • Meaning:

      "to give thanks"

    • Description:

      Zendaya has propelled her unusual African name into the spotlight and up the popularity charts. Zendaya is one of the major baby name influencers of our era.
  20. Zarina

    • Origin:

      Persian

    • Meaning:

      "a golden vessel"

    • Description:

      Derived from Persian zarin "golden", Zarina is a strong and sparkling name used in multiple languages, including Kazakh, Urdu and Malay. It was the name of an ancient Scythian queen, and also sounds very close to the Russian tsarina or czarina – the pre-revolutionary term for an empress of Russia.