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Cool Baby Names That Start with Z

  1. Zachariah

    • Origin:

      Hebrew, form of Zechariah

    • Meaning:

      "the Lord has remembered"

    • Description:

      This distinguished name still feels a bit ancient, but with the rise of such former graybeards as Jeremiah and Elijah, it also sounds child-friendly again, as does the Latin-Greek form Zacharias.
  2. Zelie

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "noble"

    • Description:

      A cute, zippy French saint's name that's picking up in popularity there, and starting to in the US as well. Zélie originated as a short form of Azélie, thought to derive from Adelaide via the Occitan form Azalaïs. Saint Zélie was born Marie-Azélie.
  3. Zebulon

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "exaltation or little dwelling"

    • Description:

      An Old Testament name with a Puritan feel and post-Zachary possibilities--one of several routes to the cool nickname Zeb.
  4. Zada

    • Origin:

      Arabic

    • Meaning:

      "fortunate, prosperous"

    • Description:

      Popular girls' name in Syria. In Yiddish, pronounced ZAE-dah, this is a term for grandfather.
  5. Zella

    • Origin:

      African, Bobangi, Libyan place name, diminutive of Rosella, Marcella, Gizella, or Isabella

    • Meaning:

      "lacking nothing, one who knows the way"

    • Description:

      Sunny, sassy, and stylish, Zella is a multicultural and versatile choice which works across multiple languages. Popular back in the early 19th century, Zella is now catching the attention of cotemporary parent as a rival to Ella, Stella, and Della.
  6. Zosia

    • Origin:

      Variant of Sophia, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "wisdom"

    • Description:

      This unusual and alluring choice was used by David Mamet for his daughter, who is now grown and an actress on the hit show Girls.
  7. Zola

    • Origin:

      African, Congolese; also literary name

    • Meaning:

      "piece of earth"

    • Description:

      When the Eddie Murphys named their fourth daughter Zola, it affirmed the up-and-coming status of the name, which has African roots, but also literary links to Emile Zola. Zola may also be recognizable to some as the adopted daughter of Meredith Grey and Derek Shepherd on the hit, long-running show Grey's Anatomy.
  8. Zaire

    • Origin:

      Place name, Congo

    • Meaning:

      "the river that swallows all rivers"

    • Description:

      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 wearable choice for a son.
  9. Zuri

    • Origin:

      Swahili

    • Meaning:

      "good, beautiful"

    • Description:

      A Swahili name with a positive meaning, Zuri came to the attention of American parents when an Ohio zoo used it for a female giraffe. It subsequently shot up the charts in 2010, peaking in 2022 when it reached the Top 200. A more recent year saw it given to 1140 girls (and 22 boys).
  10. Zephyrine

    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Zephyr, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "west wind"

    • Description:

      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, has distinctive possibilities.
  11. Zealand

    • Origin:

      English place name from Dutch

    • Meaning:

      "sea land"

    • Description:

      Sunny and energetic, but with a hint of cool cowboy, Zealand has been sparingly used since the 2000s, Zealand but shot up the charts in 2021 after YouTube family The Labrants gave it to their son the previous year. By 2022, it had quadrupled in popularity, revealing the influence celebs can make on baby name choices.
  12. Zira

    • Origin:

      Berber, Tamazight

    • Meaning:

      "moonlight"

    • Description:

      Attractive but uncommon name which has been used as a character name in several movies, including The Lion King II and Planet of the Apes. Ziri and Tiziri are variants.
  13. Zac

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Zachariah/Zachary

    • Meaning:

      "the Lord has remembered"

    • Description:

      A popular nickname that, over the past few decades, has acquired enough standing to work on its own, a la earlier equivalents such as Jack and Max; an alternative to Zach/Zack. Actor/singer Zac Efron--born Zachary--is an attractive current bearer.
  14. Zorian

    • Description:

      Zorian is a masculine name with Slavic and Greek roots. It derives from the Slavic element 'zor' or 'zori' meaning 'dawn' or 'sunrise,' symbolizing new beginnings and hope. Some connect it to the Greek name Zorus or to Zorios, an epithet of Apollo as a god of light. In Eastern European countries, particularly Russia, Ukraine, and Poland, Zorian has historical usage though it remains relatively uncommon. The name carries a celestial quality with its connection to light and daybreak, while its distinctive sound offers a contemporary feel despite its ancient origins. Zorian has gained modest international appeal in recent years as parents seek names that are both meaningful and uncommon, with a balanced combination of strength and melodic quality.

  15. Zita

    • Origin:

      Italian or Persian; Greek

    • Meaning:

      "little girl; seeker"

    • Description:

      A thirteenth-century Tuscan saint, patron of homemakers, Zita is the kind of name that sounded really creative in an earlier era.
  16. Zipporah

    • Origin:

      Variation of Tziporah, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "bird"

    • Description:

      There are many variations of this name, with or without the initial T and the final h, with one p or two. In the Bible she was the wife of Moses.
  17. Zaria

    • Origin:

      African place-name, variant of Zahra, Arabic

    • Meaning:

      "rose; to shine, to bloom"

    • Description:

      Zaria, the name of the Nigerian capital city, could be another Z name for parents to consider. It currently ranks lower than variations Zariah and Zariyah.
  18. Zale

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "sea-strength"

    • Description:

      Appealing sound and meaning, but there is that discount-store association.
  19. Zeus

    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name

    • Description:

      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 to earth. And Zeus wasn't just the supreme god, he was also the god of the sky, thunder, lightning, and fate, among other weighty responsibilities.
  20. Zaccai

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "pure"

    • Description:

      Cool biblical name that could get you to the nicknames Zac or Cai.

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