By Brynn McKeon · Updated September 2026
Across 7 pages
of 7
Hebrew
"gold, golden"
The more dignified and attractive Hebrew equivalent of Golda or Goldie.
Yiddish variation of Selig
"blessed, happy"
A super quirky and upbeat choice, if it can ever shake off its ubiquitous-guy Woody Allen identity.
Slavic, Hebrew
"vigorous, lively; bright, radiant"
Ziven is a sleek choice with multicultural origins and a bright, energized feel to it. From its Slavic roots, it likely derives from the South Slavic word, živ meaning "alive, living", making it a…
English word name
"the time at which something is most powerful or successful; the point in the celestial sphere directly above an observer"
A tip-top word name—literally, Zenith means the top or apex. Zen makes a cute nickname.
"light, splendor"
Lovely name that's been overshadowed by sister ZAHARA, which was chosen by Brad and Angelina for their oldest daughter.
Diminutive of Alexander, Greek
"defending men"
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…
Czech diminutive of Susan
"lily"
This sizzling nickname Zuzu is heard every Christmas as the name of Jimmy Stewart's little girl in "It's a Wonderful Life," but we love it all year round as a lively alternative to double names like…
Arabic
"victory"
A strong name with a strong meaning, like its cousin Zafir.
Spanish variation of Sarah
Rhythmic, tangoish name quite popular in Spanish-speaking cultures.
Slavic
"golden dawn"
Both a first and last name, Zorina has a pretty, ballerina-like quality.
Place-name
While this African place-name is much more popular for boys, nearly 40 girls were named Zaire last year. Among African baby names , this is one of the best-known in the US.
"light, brilliance"
A Top 100 name in Israel, where it is overwhelmingly feminine. Zohar is currently used equally between girls and boys in the US but is rising far more quickly for boys.
Literary name or variation of Zoe, Greek
"life"
Readers who remember J. D. Salinger's Franny and Zooey have probably forgotten that the character was male (nee Zachary). Nowadays the somewhat loopy spin on Zoe is associated with actress Zooey…
Hungarian
"sultan"
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…
Diminutive of Susanna; Polish variation of Jane, Hebrew
"lily or pledged to God"
A feminine multicultural nickname name perfectly able to stand on its own, Zanna might technically relate to either Susanna or Jane, making it a flexible honor name for an ancestral Susan or Jane or…
Gem name from Greek
"gold-hued"
Although Zircon means "gold-hued," the gem comes in a variety of colors.
Persian
"golden"
More often heard in the West as a surname, Zarin could work as a first for boys or girls.
Zoron is a striking masculine name with Slavic influences, possibly derived as a variation of names like Zoran, which means 'dawn' or 'daybreak' in several South Slavic languages. This powerful name…
Zafiro is a masculine name derived from the Spanish word for 'sapphire,' referring to the blue precious gemstone. The name carries connotations of luxury, beauty, and rarity. In various cultures,…
Arabic, Urdu
"victorious; knowledgable"
A beautiful name found in Urdu Muslim communities.
