Z Names: Beyond Zoe & Zachary

I love Z names! We just named our new kitten the french Zazie. We also had a dog named Zia.

Zariah (pronounced like Mariah) is a name that I am starting to hear more of around here, and Zaire has always been a favorite.

Zelda has been my favorite girl name forever! I absolutely love it and would use it if I thought it would fit another girl. Zuleika is a favorite, that literary one is awesome. You forgot an exotic: Zoya, the Russian Zoe. Easy to figure out pronunciation, even in English and an easy spell too. Makes it a winner for me!

Zebedee, Zion and Zinnia are some of my FAVORITE names.

I know a little boy named Zeal, which I think is great.

Thanks for mentioning Zinnia, which somehow got omitted–I’ve added it now.

Zebedee and Zinnia are favorites of mine. Zebedee is such fun to say and I like that Zeb, Zee, and Zed are all valid nicknames for it. Zinnia is just a great zippy and feminine name. Zafira from the list and also Lola’s Zoya are great Z names. I really dig Zebulon too, but I think that most might pronounce it ZEB YOU LON and then it sounds kind of sci-fi/spacey, but it actually is a cool name with plenty of history.

As for the Z variants of S names, I’m not such a fan; there are so many great Z names without going to the extent of replacing an S with a Z to make one up.

I guess I should have mentioned that most of those Z variants of S names are foreign versions, not made up.

On the TV Show NCIS…there’s a Ziva!
I like the spunk it has!

Thanks for clarifying that they are more foreign names than made up. In that case, though, some are likely not pronounced with the same z sound we know in English… Written “z” in other languages range from nearly “s” to “ts” to “zh” (as the s in measure)… that probably applies to a lot of the other names on the list… just a thought.

Don’t forget ZELLA, a German girls name used in the ’30′s (I believe). It can piggy back on all of those ELLAs out there.

Ooh, Tirzah, Zella’s what I’d nickname a Zelda of mine!

Yay, I love Z names so much! I have an 18 month old named Zafira, and her nickname is Zaza. It’s fun to say and I still feel shivers and thrills when I say it. I get odd looks from some people, but also many compliments.

I’m expecting baby #2, and hoping for a boy partially because I haven’t found another girl name I love nearly as much. And as much as I love Z names, one Z baby is enough for me.

I was surprised Zipporah was not on this list. Historical, biblical, and absolutely fantastic!

My friend’s son is named Zohn. That’s neat, huh!

My daughter name is Zuri and I get compliments on her name.

Just a warning: “Zadie”, which was in the z-for-s-names category, means “Grandpa” in Yiddish–I have seen that problem mentioned on several message boards.

my name is pretty cool..zaria (pronounced zah-ree-uh) everyone pronuonces it zahr-ree-ah though

How is Zooey pronounced? is it like Zoe or is it zoo + ee?

love Zooey for a girl and Zinnia is a new favorite of mine.

We are expecting a son in september, and I think we just found his name! I love Zerrick! There are also 3 great nicknames I can think of… Zer(zaire) Eric & Ricki… Thanks for the wonderful site We have been searching for months. I Love it!

Love the name zaria. We are due in 4 weeks and if it’s a girl she will now be called Zaria rose Tis fitting as zaria is a spin off of Sarah which is Wat I used to call my dad who has now pAssed away and rose is the middle name he gave me. Ta for the Z names love it… Now I need a boys name.

My name is Zailey and on this site it says its a made up name. Not true at all. the meaning is ‘open meadows’ or ‘princess in waiting.’ Its an Irish name.

I know a little girl named Zayir – pronounced ZI-Ear – like the city in Iraq. I just LOVE that name!

my middle name and my daughters name is Zita. i guess its a really old name but i love it!

[...] did a great blog post on this subject. They mention Z names that are originally S names – like Zuzanna. Some of my [...]