Girl Names That Start With Z
Z may sit at the end of the alphabet, but it is the first choice for parents who want a name with instant energy. Zoe and Zara are modern classics, Zelda and Zillah carry vintage charm, and newer arrivals such as Zuri and Zinnia feel bright and fresh. We collected 90+ girl names that start with Z, each with a real meaning and origin.
Z names show up in Hebrew, Greek, Arabic, Swahili and Slavic languages, so this list is truly global. If you like the zing, also browse girl names that start with Y, A for the other end of the alphabet, or boy names that start with Z.
Popular girl names that start with Z
The most-used Z names for US girls today, according to Social Security baby-name trends.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Zoe | Life | Greek |
| Zara | Princess (Hebrew, from Sarah); blooming (Arabic Zahra) | Hebrew/Arabic |
| Zoey | Life, variant of Zoe | English |
| Zuri | Beautiful, good | Swahili |
| Zariah | Princess (modern blend of Zara and Ariah) | American |
| Zelda | Grey battle-maiden (from Griselda) | Germanic |
| Zainab | Fragrant flower, or father’s precious jewel | Arabic |
| Zendaya | To give thanks (from the Shona name Tendai) | Shona-inspired, modern |
| Zaylee | Modern coinage | American |
| Zahra | Radiant, blossom | Arabic |
| Zaria | Rose (commonly given); a Nigerian city | Nigerian/Slavic |
| Zadie | Princess (from Sadie/Sarah) | English |
| Zion | Highest point; Jerusalem hill | Hebrew |
Vintage Z names
Z names that filled 19th- and early-20th-century records. More in vintage girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Zillah | Shadow | Hebrew (Genesis 4) |
| Zora | Dawn | Slavic |
| Zelma | Divine helmet (from Anselma) | Germanic/American |
| Zenobia | Life of Zeus | Greek; queen of Palmyra |
| Zella | Zealous, or from Marcella | American |
| Zada | Lucky, prosperous | Arabic/American |
| Zola | Earth, clod of soil (possibly) | Italian surname |
| Zetta | Sixth letter of the Greek alphabet (zeta) | American |
| Zona | Belt, girdle | Greek/American |
| Zula | Origin uncertain; popular in the 1880s US | American |
| Zanna | Lily, short for Susanna | English |
Nature and word names starting with Z
Flowers, winds and gemstones. See also flower names for girls and gemstone names.
| Name | Nature link | Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| Zinnia | Bright summer flower named for Johann Zinn | Cheerful, retro |
| Zephyr | The gentle west wind | Airy, unisex |
| Zephyrine | Feminine of Zephyr | Rare, elegant |
| Zircon | Sparkling gemstone | Glamorous |
| Zenith | Highest point of the sky | Ambitious |
| Zest | Enthusiasm, citrus peel | Playful |
| Zahara | Flowering, radiant | Poetic |
| Zen | Meditation (Japanese Buddhism) | Calm |
| Zia | Light (Arabic); aunt (Italian) | Short and sunny |
Hebrew and biblical Z names
Z names with roots in scripture. See biblical girl names and Hebrew girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Zipporah | Bird | Wife of Moses, Exodus 2 |
| Zilpah | Drop, trickle | Handmaid of Leah, Genesis 29 |
| Zeruiah | Balm of the Lord | Sister of David, 1 Samuel 26 |
| Zibiah | Gazelle | Mother of King Joash, 2 Kings 12 |
| Zebudah | Given | Mother of King Jehoiakim, 2 Kings 23 |
| Zohar | Radiance, brilliance | Hebrew |
| Zehava | Golden | Modern Hebrew |
| Zivah | Radiance, brightness | Hebrew |
| Zemira | Song, melody | Hebrew |
| Zahava | Golden | Modern Hebrew |
International Z names
Z names from around the world with real cultural roots. Explore Polish girl names, Arabic girl names and African girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin / pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Zofia | Wisdom | Polish (ZOF-ya) |
| Zuzanna | Lily | Polish (zoo-ZAN-na) |
| Zosia | Wisdom (pet form of Zofia) | Polish (ZOH-sha) |
| Zlata | Golden | Czech/Slavic |
| Zoya | Life | Russian |
| Zinaida | Of Zeus | Russian |
| Zdenka | From Sidon | Czech |
| Zsofia | Wisdom | Hungarian (ZHOH-fee-a) |
| Zsuzsanna | Lily | Hungarian |
| Zeynep | Form of Zainab | Turkish |
| Zehra | Radiant, bright | Turkish |
| Zahira | Shining, radiant | Arabic |
| Zakiya | Pure, righteous | Arabic |
| Zarina | Golden | Persian |
| Zari | Golden | Persian |
| Zaina | Beautiful | Arabic |
| Zawadi | Gift | Swahili |
| Zanele | They are enough | Zulu |
| Zinhle | Good, beautiful | Zulu |
| Zodwa | Only girls | Zulu |
| Zhen | Precious, treasure (珍) | Chinese |
| Zhi | Wisdom (智); iris (芷) | Chinese |
| Zhu | Pearl (珠); bamboo (竹) | Chinese |
| Zdravka | Health | Bulgarian |
| Zorana | Dawn | Serbian/Croatian |
| Zivana | Alive, lively | Serbian |
| Zuzana | Lily | Czech/Slovak |
| Zlatka | Golden | Bulgarian |
| Zyta | Girl (from Zita) | Polish |
| Zubaida | Marigold; wife of Harun al-Rashid | Arabic |
| Zuhra | Venus, the bright planet | Arabic |
| Zhanna | God is gracious (Jeanne) | Russian |
Mythological and literary Z names
Goddesses and heroines of legend and literature. See mythology girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Zorya | Dawn | Slavic dawn goddesses |
| Zemyna | Earth | Lithuanian earth goddess |
| Zuleika | Brilliant, lovely | Persian; Potiphar’s wife in Islamic tradition |
| Zuzu | Pet form of Susan | Zuzu Bailey, It’s a Wonderful Life |
| Zelie | Zeal | French; Saint Zélie Martin |
| Zazie | Pet form of Isabelle | Queneau’s Zazie dans le Métro (1959) |
| Zooey | Life (from Zoe) | Salinger’s Franny and Zooey |
Spanish and Italian Z names
Z names from Spanish- and Italian-speaking families. See Spanish girl names and Italian girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Zenaida | Of Zeus | Spanish |
| Zeferina | West wind | Spanish |
| Zoraida | Captivating (from Arabic) | Spanish |
| Zulema | Peace (from Arabic Sulayma) | Spanish |
| Zaida | Growth, abundance | Spanish/Arabic |
| Zoila | Life (from Zoe) | Spanish |
| Zaira | Radiant; from Voltaire’s Zaïre | Italian |
| Zelinda | Shield of victory | Italian |
| Zita | Girl; St. Zita of Lucca | Italian |
How to choose a Z name
- Pick the spelling early. Zoe vs. Zoey, Zara vs. Zarah — both versions are common, so decide which you prefer.
- Short and punchy works. Zoe, Zia and Zola suit long surnames; longer names like Zenobia need a short last name to balance.
- Zs are memorable. A Z name stands out on class lists, so it pairs well with a classic middle name (Zelda Jane, Zara Elizabeth).
- Mind the meaning. Zillah means shadow and Zora dawn — for more themes see names that mean life.
- Consider nicknames. Zenobia gives Zen or Nobie; Zipporah gives Zippy or Pia.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular girl name that starts with Z?
Zoe (with its spelling Zoey) has been the most-used Z name for American girls for years, followed by Zara and Zuri, according to SSA data.
What does Zoe mean?
Zoe means “life” in Greek. Early Greek-speaking Jews used it to translate the name Eve.
Which Z girl names are biblical?
Zipporah, Zilpah, Zillah, Zeruiah, Zibiah and Zebudah all appear in the Hebrew Bible.
What are unique girl names that start with Z?
Zephyrine, Zenobia, Zemyna, Zinaida, Zuleika and Zazie are rare in the US yet full of history.
What does Zuri mean?
Zuri is Swahili for “beautiful” or “good.” It has risen steadily in US rankings since the 2000s.