​
​
Advanced Search

German Names that Start With Z

Nameberry
By Nameberry
Updated Tue Oct 01 2024
  1. Ziggy

    • Origin:

      German, diminutive of Siegfried and Sigmund

    • Meaning:

      "victorious peace; victorious protection; victory"

    • Description:

      Perhaps the ultimate nicknamey name, Ziggy manages to sound cool, cutesy, spiky, and energetic all at once. It brings to mind the glam-rock of Bowie's Ziggy Stardust and the cool vibes of reggae musician Ziggy Marley, along with the contemporary-but-vintage appeal of Teddy, Mack, and Albie.
  2. Zelda

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Griselda

    • Meaning:

      "gray fighting maid"

    • Description:

      Classified as an early beauty, Zelda has long and often been used as such for characters in books and films. Since 1986, Zelda has been a prime Nintendo name, as in the Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
  3. Zinnia

    • Origin:

      Flower name, from German surname

    • Meaning:

      "Zinn's flower"

    • Description:

      Zinnia is an unusual floral choice with a bit more edge and energy than most and beginning to find its way onto namers' wish lists of botanical possibilities. Named after the 18th-century German botanist Johann Gottfried Zinn, it appears in Roald Dahl's Matilda as the young protagonist's mother.
  4. Ziska

    • Description:

      Ziska is an uncommon feminine name with historical roots. It likely originated as a diminutive form of the Czech name Zikmund (Sigismund in English). The name gained some historical recognition through Jan Žižka, the famous 15th-century Hussite military leader from Bohemia. As a feminine name, Ziska has remained quite rare internationally, appearing occasionally in Czech, German, and other Central European cultures. In modern usage, the name may appeal to parents seeking a distinctive name with Slavic heritage. Ziska has a melodic quality with its 'z' sound and crisp ending, though its rarity means many may be unfamiliar with its pronunciation or cultural associations.

  5. Zelma

    • Origin:

      German, diminutive of Anselma

    • Meaning:

      "God helmet"

    • Description:

      Familiar in the US, Brazil, and Latvia in the early 20th century, Zelma has been off the radar for some time. While the Selma-Thelma-Velma connection might date it, with Zelda and Alma sparking recent interest and clunky names holding new appeal, Zelma may be one to reconsider.
  6. Zahn

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "tooth"

    • Description:

      Newswoman Paula brought the surname Zahn to the public eye. It makes a dramatic, unusual Zane alternative -- though you may not want to enlighten your child as to its prosaic meaning.
  7. Zilke

    • Origin:

      German diminutive of Cecilia or Celia

    • Meaning:

      "blind"

    • Description:

      Along with the more common Silke, a diminutive used in Germany for Cecilia and Celia. Both Silke and Zilke are unknown yet usable German names for girls.
  8. Zamiel

    • Origin:

      German variation of Samuel

    • Description:

      For Sam-lovers who want to make a slight detour off that well-traveled road.

Introducing the Nameberry App

Nameberry App
Find your perfect baby name together with our new mobile app.
  • Swipe through thousands of names with your partner
  • Names you match on are saved to your shared list
  • Get personalized recommendations that learn based on your and your partner's preferences
  • Partner with friends and family to find names you all love
  • Backed by Nameberry's 20 years of data around name preferences.
Sign up to be notified when the app launches and to receive a discount on full access.
Nameberry App Logo