AHEAD: The ultimate list of “Z” names for girls… and which could go viral this year.
If you’re looking for beautiful girl names that start with Z, you’re in the right place!
I’ve rounded up every “Z” name that’s even the slightest bit modern and cool.
There aren’t many, but they’re all right here!
Below you’ll find 45 actually useable names, their meanings, and current popularities.
You’ll also find a shortlist of Z names poised to go viral in 2025.
Related: Boy Names that Start with Z
“Z” names trending in 2025
These girls’ names starting with Z are climbing the charts right now, each making significant gains since last year.
Zahra 🔥
- Name meaning: Radiance, blooming flower, or God remembers.
- Popularity: #556 (↑50)
Zainab
- Name meaning: A fragrant flower.
- Popularity: #876 (↑42)
Zariah
- Name meaning: Radiance, blooming flower, or God remembers.
- Popularity: #412 (↑63)
Zayla
- Name meaning: Graceful.
- Popularity: #800 (↑29)
More on 2025 viral predictions in just a bit.
Popular girl names that start with Z
The primary spellings of these Z names are ranked in the top 1000.
Zaniyah or Zaniah
- Name meaning: Corner.
- Popularity: Zaniyah ranks #735 and Zaniah isn’t ranking.
Zara
- Name meaning: Radiance, blooming flower, or God remembers.
- Popularity: #236
Zariyah or Zaria
- Name meaning: Radiance, blooming flower, or God remembers.
- Popularity: Zariah ranks #412 and Zaria ranks #756.
Zaylee
- Name meaning: Invented name.
- Popularity: #831
Zelda
- Name meaning: Several possible meanings including blessed, happy, dark battle, strong woman, and gray fighting maid.
- Popularity: #705
Zendaya
- Name meaning: To give thanks.
- Popularity: #834
Zuri or Zhuri
- Name meaning: Good + beautiful.
- Popularity: Zuri ranks #203 and Zhuri ranks #869.
Zoey or Zoe
- Name meaning: Life.
- Popularity: Zoey ranks #51 and Zoe ranks #37.
Zora
- Name meaning: Dawn.
- Popularity: #863
Zoya
- Name meaning: Life.
- Popularity: #854
Short “Z” names
These short girls’ names that start with Z are just three or four letters!
Zada
- Name meaning: Fortunate one.
- Popularity: This 4-letter name isn’t ranking.
Zana
- Name meaning: Variation of Jane, which means God is gracious.
- Popularity: This cute Luna-alternative isn’t ranking.
Zayn
- Name meaning: Beauty and grace.
- Popularity: This one-syllable One Direction-reminiscent name isn’t ranking for girls but ranks #246 for boys.
Zena
- Name meaning: Welcoming.
- Popularity: This edgy name isn’t ranking.
Zeta
- Name meaning: Letter of the Greek alphabet.
- Popularity: This Greek name isn’t ranking.
Zia
- Name meaning: Light or aunt.
- Popularity: This 3-letter name isn’t ranking.
Zila or Zilah
- Name meaning: Shadow.
- Popularity: This Hebrew name isn’t ranking.
Zion or Zyon
- Name meaning: Hill of Jerusalem.
- Popularity: Neither of these Z names is ranked for girls. Zion ranks #125 for boys.
Zola
- Name meaning: Earth or ball of earth.
- Popularity: This unique Z name isn’t ranking.
Zori
- Name meaning: Golden dawn.
- Popularity: This two-syllable name isn’t ranking.
Zyla
- Name meaning: Invented name.
- Popularity: This badass name isn’t ranking.
Zyra or Zyrah
- Name meaning: Dawn or messenger.
- Popularity: Neither spelling of this exotic name is ranking.
Unique girl names that start with Z
These girl names starting with Z are a little different!
Zadie
- Name meaning: Princess.
- Popularity: This royal name isn’t ranking. (The S name Sadie ranks #59.)
Zalia
- Name meaning: Sea.
- Popularity: This ocean-inspired name isn’t ranking.
Zamira or Zamirah
- Name meaning: Several possible meanings including nightingale and sweet voice.
- Popularity: This elegant name isn’t ranking.
Zella
- Name meaning: Several possible meanings including blessed, ‘one who knows the way’, shadow.
- Popularity: This 5-letter name isn’t ranking.
Zemora
- Name meaning: Willow tree.
- Popularity: This tree-inspired name isn’t ranking.
Zenia or Zeniah
- Name meaning: Hospitality.
- Popularity: This three-syllable name isn’t ranking.
Zenith
- Name meaning: The point in the sky or celestial sphere directly above an observer.
- Popularity: This space name isn’t ranking.
Zephyra
- Name meaning: West wind.
- Popularity: This name ending in a isn’t ranking.
Ziggy
- Name meaning: Victory.
- Popularity: This nonbinary name isn’t ranking for either gender.
Zinnia
- Name meaning: Colorful flower.
- Popularity: This nature-inspired name isn’t ranking.
Zoella
- Name meaning: Life + girl.
- Popularity: This pretty rainbow baby name isn’t ranking.
Zorina
- Name meaning: Golden dawn.
- Popularity: This sun-inspired name isn’t ranking.
BONUS LIST: Girls’ names containing the letter “Z”
If you really like Z names but haven’t found the perfect one, consider a baby name that contains the letter Z (but doesn’t start with it)!
👉🏼 Feel free to jump ahead to 2025 viral predictions.
Arizona
- Name meaning: Small spring.
- Popularity: This A name isn’t ranking.
Azalea
- Name meaning: A flowering shrub.
- Popularity: #367
Azariah
- Name meaning: Helped by God.
- Popularity: #563
Daleyza
- Name meaning: Delightful.
- Popularity: #448
Eliza or Elizabeth
- Name meaning: Pledged to God.
- Popularity: Eliza ranks #116 and Elizabeth is #15.
Esperanza
- Name meaning: Hope.
- Popularity: #989
Ezra
- Name meaning: Help.
- Popularity: This E name ranks #762 for girls and #15 for boys.
Hazel
- Name meaning: Of the Hazelnut tree.
- Popularity: #19
Izabella
- Name meaning: Promise.
- Popularity: Izabella ranks #483. (Isabella ranks #7 and Isabela ranks #655.)
Izaria
- Name meaning: Invented name.
- Popularity: This 4-syllable name isn’t ranking.
Itzayana
- Name meaning: Rainbow lady.
- Popularity: This unique name isn’t ranking.
Itzel
- Name meaning: Rainbow lady.
- Popularity: This I name ranks #364.
Jazmin
- Name meaning: Gift from God.
- Popularity: Jazmin ranks #645 (Jasmine ranks #190.)
Jazlyn
- Name meaning: Invented name.
- Popularity: #540
Jazz
- Name meaning: Music.
- Popularity: This J name isn’t ranking.
Kenzie
- Name meaning: Bright one.
- Popularity: #564
Keziah or Kezia
- Name meaning: The Hebrew term for the spice tree, Cassia.
- Popularity: Neither spelling of this K name is ranking.
Mackenzie or Mckenzie or Makenzie
- Name meaning: Daughter of Kenneth.
- Popularity: Mackenzie ranks #165, Mckenzie ranks #436, and Makenzie ranks #537.
Mazie
- Name meaning: Child of light.
- Popularity: #958
Mazikeen
- Name meaning: Harmful spirits.
- Popularity: This unique name isn’t ranking.
Nazaria
- Name meaning: Meaning unknown.
- Popularity: This unique N name isn’t ranking.
Razia
- Name meaning: Satisfied or contented.
- Popularity: This unique name isn’t ranking.
Topaz
- Name meaning: Birthstone for the month of December.
- Popularity: This great winter baby name isn’t ranking.
Will any girl that start with Z go viral in 2025?
Yes, I believe so!
There is one stand-out name poised for viral growth this year.
Zahra
Move over Zara – there’s a new Z-name climbing the charts, and it’s got serious momentum.
The Arabic name Zahra (meaning “bright, brilliant, flower”) has been quietly but consistently ascending the rankings, jumping an impressive 399 spots since 2012 to reach #556 in 2023 – its highest ranking ever.
What makes Zahra particularly interesting is its perfect blend of cultural depth and modern appeal.
While it carries rich meaning in Arabic tradition, its familiar ‘ah’ sound pattern and straightforward pronunciation make it accessible to a broad audience.
Celebrity connections have helped normalize the name – it appears in the family trees of both David Bowie and Eddie Murphy, who chose it as a middle name for their daughters.
Watch for this luminous name to potentially crack the top 400 by 2025 as more parents discover its radiant appeal.
Nicknames for girl names that start with Z
These are great if you love long names but want a shorter Z-initial nickname.
👉🏼 Jump ahead to middle names if you wish.
Zee
Short for: Zahra, Zainab, Zenith, Zephyra
Zay
Short for: Zayla, Zaylee, Zayn
Zen
Short for: Zendaya, Zenia, Zeniah
Zoe
Short for: Zoella, Zorina, Zoey
Zy
Short for: Zyra, Zyrah, Zyla
Zari
Short for: Zariah, Zariyah, Zaria
Nicknames that don’t start with Z but whose long versions start with Z:
Short for: Zelda
Minnie
Short for: Zamira, Zamirah
Nia
Short for: Zinnia, Zenia
Middle name ideas for girl names that start with Z
Here are some beautiful first + middle name combinations for a first name with “Z” as the first letter.
- Zadie Brooke
- Zainab Aria
- Zamira Rose
- Zana Harper
- Zaniyah Lily
- Zara Lennox
- Zariah Jade
- Zaylee Palmer
- Zayn Everly
- Zelda Paige
- Zella Blakely
- Zena Noelle
- Zendaya Lane
- Zenia Raven
- Zenith Embry
- Zeta Harlow
- Zia Rylan
- Ziggy Violet
- Zinnia May
- Zoella Hart
- Zoey Hazel
- Zola Phoenix
- Zora Lavender
- Zori Scarlett
- Zorina Ruby
- Zoya Hadley
Now, here are some zippy first + middle name combinations for a first name containing the letter “Z”:
- Arizona Ruby
- Azalea Rylan
- Azariah Rose
- Daleyza Ivy
- Eliza Avery
- Elizabeth Scarlett
- Esperanza Grace
- Ezra Phoenix
- Hazel Alexandra
- Itzayana Faye
- Itzel Mackenzie
- Izabella Violet
- Izaria Gray
- Jazlyn Mia
- Jazmin Eve
- Jazz Emersyn
- Kenzie Sophia
- Keziah Ava
- Mackenzie Reese
- Mazie Lennox
- Mazikeen Parker
- Nazaria Hazel
- Tazara Everly
- Topaz Skye
Girl Names that Start with Z: Trend Analysis
Girl names that start with Z have carved out a fascinating niche in the current naming landscape, with 17 names ranking in the top 1000.
While only Zoe (#37) and Zoey (#51) have cracked the top 100, we’re seeing interesting movement in the rankings that suggests changes ahead for 2025.
The Z initial carries a natural uniqueness that parents love, yet these names remain surprisingly accessible. Think Zara (#236) and Zuri (#203) – distinctive without being difficult to pronounce.
Arabic and Islamic names are showing particular momentum in this category. Names like Zahra and Zainab combine cultural significance with melodic sounds that appeal to a wide range of parents.
Celebrity influence continues to play a role, with Zendaya (#834) maintaining presence in the rankings, though her name’s meteoric rise may have peaked.
Looking ahead to 2025, expect to see continued strength in shorter Z names with royal or nature-inspired meanings.
Zara, already benefiting from fashion brand recognition and royal connections, shows promise for gradual climbing.
The “ah” ending sound (as in Zahra, Zariah, Zelda) appears to be a winning formula in this category, suggesting these styles of names could see increased adoption.
Parents seeking distinctive yet wearable choices might want to watch names like Zariah (#412) and Zayla (#800), which hit the sweet spot of unique but not unfamiliar.
Zoe and Zoey will likely maintain their strong positions, having proven their staying power as modern classics.
Despite Z being an uncommon initial, these names span a remarkable range of origins – from Hebrew (Zoe) to Arabic (Zahra) to Swahili (Zuri), reflecting an increasingly multicultural approach to naming.
Final thoughts on girl names that start with Z
As you’ve now seen for yourself, there aren’t a whole lot of mainstream girl names that start with Z.
That said, there are some cool ideas on this list, and hopefully you fell in love with at least one or two!
Before you make your daughter’s name official, here are two final tips:
-
- Think twice before turning a popular “S” name into a “Z” name. For example, if you turn Sophie into Zophie, there’s a pretty solid chance that your daughter’s name will be misspelled m̶o̶s̶t̶ all of the time.
- Watch out for the name Zina. It was initially on my list. It sounds so pretty so I thought it would make a great baby name… until I googled it. Turns out, Zina is the Islamic legal term for unlawful sexual intercourse. Yikes.
Ultimately, you and your partner should choose whichever girl name that starts with Z that makes you the happiest. It’s a very personal decision that only you can make!
Congratulations and good luck choosing the perfect Z name for your baby girl!
The source for popularity data is SSN.
This article was originally published on Jan 5, 2022 and was updated on Jan 19, 2025.
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