Baby Girl Names That Start With Z

“Z” is easily one of the spunkiest, most energetic letters in the alphabet. And while it’s historically one of the least utilized starting letters for English names, it’s been experiencing an uptick in recent years—and we’re super zealous about the Z-girl name options!

So keep up with the zeitgeist, and browse our list of girl names beginning with Z. You’ll find zillions to choose from!

Fun Facts About Girl Names That Start With Z

• Zoe and Zoey, the queens of Z names: Zoe and its variant Zoey are consistently the most popular names for girls beginning with Z. According to data from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and The Bump, Zoe entered the top 100 most popular names in 2000, and Zoey followed suit in 2008.

• Zelda—before the legend: When people hear the name Zelda today, they usually think of Nintendo’s iconic The Legend of Zelda video-game franchise. But Zelda has a way more extensive history and packs a lot of zeal for its whimsical appeal. It began as a nickname for the German Griselda and translates to “grey battle”—perfect for a brave little warrior in the making!

• The “Zendaya Effect” is real: Pop culture has a massive impact on baby-name statistics, and actress Zendaya is the ultimate proof. With Southern African roots, the once-rare name means “to give thanks”—and we give thanks to Zendaya and her parents for spotlighting this gorgeous moniker! Thanks to her stardom, the name Zendaya has seen waves of popularity among parents looking for something uniquely beautiful.

• Z names are statistically distinct: There’s a reason why Z names feel instantly distinct to the human ear—our brains aren’t used to hearing them. If you look at the total distribution of names in American history, Z is one of the rarest starting letters in the entire alphabet. According to the SSA, only about 1 percent of all babies born in the US have been given a name starting with Z—ever. It consistently ranks near the absolute bottom for starting letters, making it an especially elite and under-utilized initial.