Updated November 2026
Across 4 pages
of 4
Hebrew
"highest point"
Zion has taken off in recent years, particularly after singer Lauryn Hill used it for her son back in 1997 and incorporated the name into a hit song. It combines a user-friendly Ryan-Brian sound…
Arabic
"beauty, grace"
Zayn zoomed up the popularity charts thanks to former One Direction member Zayn Malik; it was one of the fastest-rising names of 2016. The name can also be spelled Zain; the feminine version is…
Variation of Zaire, Kongo "the river that swallows all rivers"
"the river that swallows all rivers"
Zaire has been a rising choice in the US in recent years, derived from the name of a now dissolved Central African state which takes its name from the Kongo term "the river that swallows all…
Possible variation of John
"God is gracious"
Western novelist Zane (born Pearl!) Grey made this name famous. Now, it's in tune with the style of our times, retaining that appealing cowboy image. Zane Grey was the great-grandson of Ebenezer…
Diminutive of Alexander
"defending men"
On the rise as an independent name: Zander and Xander are both widely used can increasingly be found as characters in movies and on TV.
Place name, Congo
Zaire was a Central African state from 1971 to 1997 that has recently risen up the charts as a boys name. Deriving from a Congo term meaning "the river that swallows all rivers", it makes a bold and…
Variation of Zaccai, Hebrew
"pure"
Zakai bears a lot of resemblance to the ancient Hebrew name Zaccai, but many modern parents are using it as an elaboration of the popular name Kai, blending it with Zack. Jakai and Makai are other…
Variation of Zayn, Arabic
Zayn and the more Western-friendly Zain sound exactly like the popular Zane but have a different root, in Arabic and African cultures. The name was made familiar to Europeans and Americans by…
Spelling variation of Zaden, modern invented name
Zaiden grafts the fashionable first letter z onto the Aiden/Kaiden/Jaiden group of names, to popular effect. Soundalike Zayden is even more popular.
"increase, growth"
Zayd (or its most common variant Zaid), an old and still well used Arabic name, was a enslaved man whom Muhammad adopted as his son.
"to increase"
This variant of the Arabic Zayd actually ranks higher than the original in the US. In the contemporary American culture, however, this name could be viewed as an alternative to recently invented…
"helper, supporter"
A popular name in the Middle East and one of the most evocative choices of its genre. One of the 99 names of Allah. The feminine form is Zahira.
Variation of Zaire, Kongo
One of the many new spellings of Zaire that has been climbing the charts lately.
Diminutive of Ezekiel
"God strengthens"
Zeke is a casual form of the name Ezekiel, an important prophet from the Old Testament. How well Zeke holds up depends on the boy: it could be a cooler alternative of Zack, or it could prove too…
"wolf"
Zev is a short, simple, animal name that may relate to the Old Testament Ze'ev -- except he was a villainous character.
Spelling variation of Zion, Hebrew
"highest place"
With its sharp Z initial and similar sound to Ryan, Zion has shot up the charts in singer Lauryn Hill used it for her son in 1997. Following on in its footsteps, spelling variant Zyon entered the…
Spelling variation of Xavier
This phonetic version is occasionally used and removes any confusion about whether the X is fully pronounced or not.
Japanese
"meditation"
A spiritual word name used by actor Zoe Saldana for her son as well as more recently Nick Cannon and Alyssa Scott for their late son. Zen has been trending in recent years along with other spiritual…
Greek
"west wind"
If you're looking for a name that's light and breezy, this could be it. A name from mythology: Zephyrus/Zephyr was the Greek god of the west wind, and with its similarity in sound to the likes of…
Greek mythology name
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…