Updated October 2026
Across 4 pages
of 4
Hebrew
"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…
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…
Zo is a minimalist yet impactful feminine name of various origins. As a standalone name, it can be seen as a shortened form of names like Zoe, which derives from the Greek word meaning 'life.' In…
"olive"
A rarely heard Hebrew name whose zippy first initial Z transforms it from dated Yetta-like image to more lively Catherine Zeta Jones-like appeal.
English, derived from Zulu, South African tribal name
Related to the powerful South African warrior people, sometimes chosen by African-Americans to celebrate their heritage. Zula is also a Norwegian diminutive of Zuzanna.
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…
Zarita is a feminine name with Spanish or Latin American origins, possibly a diminutive form of names like Zara or Sarah. The suffix '-ita' is a Spanish diminutive denoting affection or smallness.…
Hungarian, , diminutive of Erzsebet
"God is my oath"
Zsa Zsa is a zippy Hungarian nickname name, sometimes used independently, linked for decades with the Hungarian-born actress Zsa Zsa Gabor--who was born Sari.
Modern invented name
Zippier Deborah.
French
"noble"
A cute, zippy French saint's name that's picking up in popularity there, and here in the US. Zélie originated as a short form of Azélie, thought to derive from Adelaide via the Occitan form Azalaïs.…
Feminine variation of Zephyr, Greek
"west wind"
Zephyr may not be a name often heard in the U.S., but its variations are used throughout Europe. Zephyrine, a cousin in sound and feel if not in fact to such lovely names as Severine and Seraphina,…
"shadow"
Although this Old Testament name is soft and delicate, it runs the risk of conjuring up the monstrous Godzilla.
Invented name
As a nickname for one of the longer Z-starting choices, maybe, but not as a name unto itself.
"frailty"
The biblical Zilpah was a handmaiden of Leah who had two sons with Jacob, Gad and Asher. Zilpah is a one-hit wonder, appearing on the US Top 1000 only one year, 1881. No baby girls were named Zilpah…
Literary character
Name of the imaginary Queen of Ix created by L. Frank Baum for one of his Oz books.
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.
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.
Hungarian
"my god is oath"
A sparky diminutive of Erszébet, the Hungarian form of Elizabeth.