Updated October 2026
Across 8 pages
of 8
Hebrew
"to arise; dawn"
The Biblical Zerah is etymologically related to such names as Zora, which also means dawn. While the vowel sound at the end of the name does not sound as feminine to our modern ear as it once did,…
Yiddish, variation of Selig
"blessed, happy"
Woody Allen introduced us to the name Zelig as the ever-morphing title character of his 1983 film. Zelig does have an upbeat meaning, and nickname Zelie makes it accessible for a girl, though it's an…
Spelling variation of Zabel, form of Isabel which is a form of Elizabeth, Hebrew
"pledged to God"
Zabelle and Zabel are fresh (to us) and ancient forms of Isabel, making zippy variations for modern lovers of that ancient name who feel the original is overexposed.
Variant of Zoltan
"Sultan; ruler"
Zolten is a variant spelling of Zoltan, which is currently in the Top 50 in Hungary, its country of origin. We recommend you stick with the original spelling, which remains extremely rare.
Cornish, place name
This Cornish place name is possibly named after a female saint, Senara. It makes a very interesting choice for those of Cornish descent or who love Cornwall.
Cornish place and saint's name
This Cornish place name is possibly named after a female saint, Senara. However, it can work just as well on a boy and would make a very interesting choice for those of Cornish descent or who love…
Hungarian
"my god is oath"
A sparky diminutive of Erszébet, the Hungarian form of Elizabeth.
Feminine variation of Zale, invented nickname-name, or short form of Azalea
All baby names can be made more "creative" by putting a Z at the beginning instead of what's conventionally there: B or C or H, for instance. Zaley is an adorable entry in this group, also spelled…
Turkish
"emerald"
An anglicized spelling of the Turkish Zümra, a spin on the word zümrüt meaning "emerald". Popular in its traditional form in Turkey and Azerbaijan, it is also familiar in The Netherlands. The first…
American place-name and Arabic
"peace"
Zuma was entered in the American name lexicon when musicians Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale chose it for their son. Californians will recognize Zuma as the name of a beautiful beach in Malibu, and…
Russian
This Russian name was created by Communist parents looking to reject traditional names (it is believed to derive from the French surname Jaures). One notable bearer is Nobel prize winner and…
Romani
"son / sonny"
This Romani name may derive from the Yiddish name Zindel, which is itself a name derived from Alexander.
Short form of Azalea or modern invented name
Zalie -- which may be styled Zayley or Zaylee or Zaylie, among other spellings -- might be a short form of the flower name Azalea or may also be a cute modern nickname-name used on its own. You might…
"roe, deer"
Compelling Z name mentioned in the Old Testament and one of the unique baby names still undiscovered from the Bible.
Animal name
More commonly known as the Mongolian Gazelle, the Zeren is an antelope that lives on the steppes of central Asia. Zeren is a highly unusual but user-friendly animal name that works for both girls and…
Fictional invented name
Name invented for a spirit fox character on the Disney Channel TV show Sofia the First .
Gem name from Greek
"gold-hued"
Although Zircon means "gold-hued," the gem comes in a variety of colors.
Swahili place name from Persian
"black coast"
Zanzibar is an island region off the coast of Tanzania. It's never been recorded as a baby name, but for those with a connection to Zanzibar, it's an intriguing and unique option chock full of zesty…
Invented name
Superfans of auteur Wes Anderson may now consider Zissou as a baby name option, ever since Kieran Culkin and Jazz Charton used it for their daughter (birth name Kinsey Sioux). It's a clear homage to…
Italian invented name
A clear reference to the Italian film director Franco Zeffirelli, known for his adaptations of Shakespearean plays such as The Taming of the Shrew , Romeo and Juliet , and Hamlet . Zeffirelli was…