Zephaniah
14% girls · 86% boys
About Zephaniah
A minor prophet who has his own Book, Zephaniah is another Old Testament gem waiting to be rediscovered now that Noah and Abraham are becoming too trendy.
Zephaniah for boys#1458 US
The vowel-sound ending of Zephaniah is currently bang on trend, along with other Biblical boys' names with softer sounds – think Elijah, Asher and Isaiah. Zephaniah would make a perfect lesser-used alternative to Zachariah.
A famous namesake is the British writer and dub poet Benjamin Zephaniah.
Zephaniah for girls#6111 US
Zephaniah as a feminine name represents an unusual gender crossover from its traditional masculine usage. Originally a Hebrew biblical name meaning 'God has hidden' or 'God has treasured,' Zephaniah was one of the twelve minor prophets in the Old Testament. While historically used for boys, some parents have adopted it for girls, appreciating its distinctive sound and spiritual significance. The feminine usage remains quite rare, making it an extraordinarily unique choice. The name carries rich religious heritage and a melodic quality with its multiple syllables. For a girl, Zephaniah offers the potential nicknames Zeph, Nia, or Fania, adding versatility to this uncommon biblical choice.
Pronounced zef-uh-NY-uh.
As of October 2026, Zephaniah ranked #1458 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #1150 in 2019.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank · boys | Births · boys | US rank · girls | Births · girls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #1,388 | 123 | — | 0 |
| 2015 | #1,415 | 122 | — | 0 |
| 2016 | #1,273 | 144 | #4,987 | 28 |
| 2017 | #1,312 | 138 | — | 0 |
| 2018 | #1,233 | 151 | — | 0 |
| 2019 | #1,150 | 170 | — | 0 |
| 2020 | #1,397 | 125 | — | 0 |
| 2021 | #1,395 | 132 | — | 0 |
| 2022 | #1,521 | 119 | — | 0 |
| 2023 | #1,456 | 125 | — | 0 |
| 2024 | #1,339 | 143 | — | 0 |
| 2025 | #1,458 | 123 | — | 0 |
World rankings
Zephaniah for boys
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Zephaniah.
Zephaniah on lists
Famous Zephaniahs
- ZephaniahBoy
father of Azariah, son of Tahath, of the tribe of Levi (1 Chr. 6:36)
- ZephaniahBoy
Biblical prophet
- ZephaniahBoy
second priest in Jerusalem when it was captured by the Babylonians
- Zephaniah Kingsley Sr.Boy
British merchant and founder of the University of New Brunswick, great,grandfather of painter James McNeill Whistler
- Zephaniah KingsleyBoy
Jr., American plantation owner
- Zephaniah SwiftBoy
U.S. Congressman from Connecticut
- Zephaniah WilliamsBoy
Welsh Chartist and leader of the Newport Rising
- Zephaniah Swift MooreBoy
American clergyman and educator
- Zephaniah NcubeBoy
Zimbabwean Olympic runner
- Dewi Zephaniah PhillipsBoy
Welsh philosopher
- Zephaniah Marley (b. 2017)Boy
son of Zion Marley; grandson of singer Lauryn Hill and CFL player Rohan Marley; great,grandson of singer Bob Marley
- Benjamin Obadiah Iqbal ZephaniahBoy
English poet