Karen's List o' Z

Zachary, a Top 20 name throughout the 90s, is now sliding down the rankings though it remains in the Top 200. With its ancient roots and modern feel, it's easy to understand why Zachary has been such a longtime winner.

If you want something truly different that also has an interesting origin and meaning, this is a far-out -- if not unlikely -- possibility.

Has a gemlike glow, as in Sapphire.

This is a Hebrew word name, created from the word zahav, meaning gold.

Could be some disconnect between spelling and pronunciation.

A name that is rarely heard and might be worth considering as a way of zipping up a namesake Sandra. It has long been associated with iconoclastic British fashion designer Zandra Rhodes.

This name of a triple star system in Virgo has a New Agey astral feel.

Zara has multiple origins, but most notably is a variation of Zahrah, a name derived from the Arabic zahrah, meaning "blooming flower." Zara can also be a diminutive of the Bulgarian name Zaharina, a feminine form of the Hebrew Zechariah. Today, Zara is heavily associated with the Spanish fast-fashion empire of the same name.

Zariza is a unique name sure to appeal to Z lovers.

Newer than Zac, cooler than Ed, Ned, or Ted.

Zeila, the name of a port town in Somalia, has cultural resonance and an appealing sound.

This mini name is more spunky than Zack or Zeke, but shares those well-loved sounds. In Ethiopia, Zeki means "pure", and is pronounced "zeh-KEE", with emphasis on the second syllable. With the rise of trending Zakai and similar names into the US charts, Zeki has potential.

See ZELLA.