Alternatives to Zoe or Zoey

Popular among the Muslim community and currently in the UK Top 300, Aiza is a name with bright, zippy sounds and a short but substantial feel, making it an appealing choice.

Alza is a concise and distinctive feminine name with several possible origins. It may derive from Spanish, where it relates to the verb 'alzar' meaning 'to raise' or 'to lift up,' suggesting elevation and aspiration. Alternatively, it could be connected to Germanic elements meaning 'noble' or serve as a shortened form of names like Alzada. The brevity of Alza gives it a modern, streamlined quality while its soft sounds maintain a feminine elegance. This uncommon name has a international versatility that works across multiple cultures. Its rarity makes it stand out, yet its simple pronunciation prevents it from being too challenging. For parents seeking a short, meaningful name with cross-cultural appeal, Alza offers uniqueness without complexity.

Ava is one of the prime examples of a modern classic name, rising thought the course of a generation into the Top 10, where it has lingered for nearly 20 years.

Chloe is a pretty springtime name symbolizing new growth. Though slightly off its peak in the Top 10 in 2010, Chloe still ranks in the Top 20 and is solidly a modern classic.

In Greek mythology, Daphne was the nymph daughter of Peneus, a river god. Peneus saved Daphne from Apollo’s romantic obsessions by transforming her into a laurel tree. It is from this myth that the plant genus daphne, which contains the laurel species, gets its name.

Eve, the oldest name in the Book, is now coming back into style, having the virtues of simplicity and purity, yet with more strength and resonance than other single-syllable names like Ann. British actor Clive Owen chose Eve for his daughter, as did Jessica Capshaw.

Evie was derived from the English Eve or the Latin Eva, which in turn come from Chawwah, a Hebrew name related to the concept of life. Evie can be used as a nickname for any name that starts with Ev-, including Eva, Evelyn, and Evangeline, but also for names such as Genevieve and Maeve. Evie is typically pronounced with a long E sound, but a short E is also valid.

Ezra is a biblical favorite for boys that's been making inroads into the girls' Top 1000 since 2018 and it's easy to see why. With its soft sounds and -a ending, it holds the same appeal as Noa, Sasha, Micah, and Luka do: short, sweet, and solid. 2024 saw Ezra climb 61 places up the US charts, placing it just outside the Top 700.

This sweet little acronym, popularized in the age of texting, has established itself as a baby name. The similarity to Ivy, Isla and Riley/Miley has undoubtedly played a role.

Isla is a hit name throughout the English-speaking world but hasn't found the same popularity in other western countries, perhaps because its spelling and pronunciation don't make sense for those whose native language is not English. Think island without the final two letters.

Short, sweet, and sharp, this multicultural choice is currently popular in Croatia, Czechia, Slovenia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. While not in the charts elsewhere, it is familiar in English speaking countries, and in the Netherlands.

The quirky, offbeat and energetic botanical name Ivy is enjoying a deserved revival, propelled even higher by its choice by high-profile parents Beyonce and Jay-Z for daughter Blue Ivy. Ivy is also traditionally used at Christmas, make this one of the perfect names for December babies.

The original brief, breezy name is somewhat out of favor now even as a middle name. The Leigh spelling has more substance and is more identifiable as female.

This spelling adds a little more femininity to the neutral Lee. Leigh and sister Lee were quite popular in the 1960s and 1970s among the first cool wave of unisex names for girls, but now have vanished from the Top 1000. The Biblical Leah is preferred.

Liv combines the succinct charm of a nickname—people might assume it's short for Olivia—with the solidity of being a classic stand-alone Scandinavian name with a life-force meaning. It was brought into the public eye (in the English speaking world that is) due to the fame of actress and Aerosmith daughter Liv Tyler.

Livvy is a charming feminine name primarily used as a diminutive form of Olivia, Livia, or Elizabeth. With English origins, it embodies a playful, youthful energy while maintaining connection to more formal traditional names. The nickname gained increased popularity in the early 21st century, coinciding with the rise of Olivia as one of the most popular girls' names in English-speaking countries. Livvy strikes a balance between sweetness and spunk, making it appealing for parents who appreciate vintage nickname forms. While most commonly used as a familiar form rather than a legal name, some parents now choose Livvy as a standalone given name, embracing its cheerful, uncomplicated nature.

Lizzie was commonly used as an independent name in the last half of the nineteenth century. Today Lizzie is still one of the most stylish short forms of Elizabeth, but few U.S. parents put it on the birth certificate.

Lizzy is a feminine name primarily used as an affectionate diminutive of Elizabeth, which has Hebrew origins meaning 'God is my oath' or 'pledged to God.' This friendly, approachable nickname gained independent usage in the 19th century and continues to be chosen as a standalone name today. Lizzy projects a youthful, spirited, and warm personality while maintaining connections to the regal history of Elizabeth. The name enjoyed renewed popularity in the late 20th and early 21st centuries as parents increasingly chose shorter, less formal names for their daughters. Cultural references like Pride and Prejudice's Lizzy Bennet have contributed to the name's enduring charm and appeal.

This name of a character played by Kirsten Dunst in the movie Virgin Suicides, originally a novel by Jeffrey Eugenides, is gaining attention, also thanks to the heroine Lux, Lady of Luminosity in the League of Legends games. Luz is the Spanish version.

Mavie is cute as can be, and feels stylish today thanks to similar-sounding Maeve. A fairly recently invented name, it was used first in Germany, where it is alleged to be inspired by the French phrase ma vie meaning "my life".