Z: the last letter, and a "zed" for Canadians
Z is last in the alphabet, and in Canada and Britain it is called "zed" while Americans say "zee". The Romans dropped Z early on and brought it back at the end of the alphabet to spell Greek words. Names that open with Z carry a buzz that feels modern and energetic, and few letters give so much sparkle to a short name.
Short, sharp and sparkly
Many Z names are brief. Zara means "blooming flower", Zoe means life, Zuri means beautiful and Zev means wolf. Zane and Zeke are the quick, friendly boy names, and Zeno is the Greek for a gift from Zeus. The Z sound is simply a voiced version of S, which gives it a lively hum.
Arabic and African Z names
The strongest cultural group is Arabic names: Zahra (radiant), Zainab (fragrant tree), Zayn (beauty), Zaid, Zakaria and Zuhair. African names add Zuri, Zuberi (strong) and Zola, a Zulu name meaning calm. Hebrew adds Ziva (radiance) and Zion.
Nature is another source. Zephyr is the west wind, Zinnia is a flower named for the German botanist Johann Zinn, and Zelda is a short form of Griselda meaning "grey battle".
Z names worth a closer look
- Zuri
A Swahili name that is short, sweet and easy for any family to say.
- Zephyr
A Greek name for the west wind, breezy and distinctive.
- Ziva
A Hebrew name with a shining meaning and a gentle sound.
- Zeno
A Greek name for a gift from Zeus, with a philosophical history.
- Zinnia
A bright flower name that is rare and cheerful.
Famous people whose first names start with Z
- Zora Neale Hurston, the author of Their Eyes Were Watching God
- Zendaya, the Emmy-winning actor and singer
- Zinedine Zidane, the French footballer and later coach who won the World Cup in 1998
- Zaha Hadid, the architect who became the first woman to win the Pritzker Prize
- Zadie Smith, the British novelist of White Teeth
- Zoe Saldaña, the actor who starred in Avatar and Guardians of the Galaxy
- Zayn Malik, the singer who rose to fame in One Direction
Questions about Z names
Is it "zed" or "zee"?
Canadians and British speakers say "zed", and Americans say "zee". Both are correct in their regions.
What does Zoe mean?
Zoe is a Greek name meaning life.