Popular in the Netherlands

Abbreviated form of Zahara that was used by Chris Rock for his daughter and as a middle name by both Eddie Murphy and David Bowie. Compared with the even-more-abbreviated Zara, Zahra may create more spelling problems but clarify pronunciation.

This zippy nickname would make an interesting update to Joseph.

Zev is a short, simple, animal name that may relate to the Old Testament Ze'ev -- except he was a villainous character.

A zippy little international name. The Hebrew name relates to the month of Israeli independence. The Slavic Ziva (also spelled Živa and Siva) is a goddess of love, life and fertility.

As Sophia gets more popular, parents search out more unusual spins, and the Z makes this qualify.

Now that Zoe is getting wildly popular in the U.S. and the U.K. -- one poll puts it at number one in Wales -- parents may start hunting down fresh twists like this.