Zach is heard everywhere. Zeke is gaining. What other Z names might catch on?
Thanks to JNE for suggesting Zebedee as Baby Name of the Day.
We don’t know much about the original Zebedee. He’s one of those Biblical figures mentioned briefly, without much in the way of a biography. In the New Testament, he’s a fisherman from Galilee, married to Salome, and father to the apostles James and John. A few comments suggest that the family was fairly well-off, but whether Zebedee was a pillar of the community or a rat bastard, well … his kids turned out just fine, so let’s assume he’s a worthy namesake.
There’s also Zebadiah, a name that appears in the Old Testament. Both come from the Greek Zebedaois, which means something like “God has given.”
Neither of the Zeb- names has ever appeared in the US Top 1000, though Zeb appeared in the nineteenth century. The unrelated, but equally Biblical Zebulon, appeared a few times in the late 1800s, too.
Before we dismiss Zebedee as too quirky for consideration, take a gander at the current US Top 1000. The letter Z is well represented:
- Zachary ranked #47 in 2008, with variants Zackary at #362, Zachery at #625 and the most phonetic Zackery at #638;
- Spiritual place name Zion came in at #232, with the African Zaire at #844;
- Cowboy Zane ranked #235, plus variants Zain (#797) and Zayne (#825);
- Biblical Ezekiel, a popular way to get to the diminutive Zeke, ranked #241 while Ezequiel came in at #519;
- A modern truncated form of Alexander, Zander ranked #298 with Xander at #267;
- Slightly more elaborate than Zach, there’s Zachariah (#441) and Zechariah (#659);
- There’s Aiden and Jayden‘s zippy cousins Zayden (#488) and Zaiden (#898);
- Zavier charted at #742, though original Xavier ranked #81 and triple word score Xzavier was #628;
- Just Zack ranked #884 and plain Zaid came in at #924;
- Lastly, #929 Hezekiah could also lead to Zeke.
And that list doesn’t count z-laden names like Ezra, Enzo, Cruz and Denzel.
The letter Z might be big, but Zebedee’s uses are few:
- When the BBC borrowed French children’s show Le Manège enchanté, it became The Magic Roundabout. The stop motion cult classic was broadcast into the late 1970s and beyond. From French to English, most of the characters changed names. Jack-in-the-box Zébulon became Zebedee;
- Thomas the Tank Engine’s creators also made a series about tugboats. TUGS was never anywhere near as successful, but the rights also went to Thomas’ parent company. Some of the tugboats left Bigg City Port for the Island of Sodor, including Zebedee. He was a troublemaker in the original series, but came to Henry’s rescue in Thomas;
- BBC Radio Four’s Zeb Soanes was born Zebedee. There must be a few more out there, but he’s one of the few who has achieved some renown.
It’s not much to work with. You’d probably have to adore Z names – and possibly have older kids called Zoe, Zara, Zachary and Zane – to consider a Zeb- choice. But they’re appealing choices, with just enough history to make them more substantial than Zaidyn.
This is kind of cool. I’d never use it myself, but I would probably love it on someone else. I love how its so full of character. Zeb is definitely a cool nickname option.
Well, this one was on the short list for us! Admittedly it is pretty far from my usual naming preferences, but it’s zippy and just so darn fun to say! (Would I annoy a child by saying his name over and over for the pure fun of saying it? Yeah, probably.) Plus it has a few nn possibilities that are all likable: Zeb, Zed, Zee. So why did we choose NOT to use it? Well, it’s because of the above-mentioned show, “The Magic Roundabout” – my husband grew up with it and he just couldn’t get past the association, even though he admitted that he liked the name quite a bit otherwise. We toyed with it in the middle spot, but I really wanted it up front… although Oliver Zebedee would’ve been fun (we even searched for a mn with a zippy initial to liven up Oliver, like Z, Y, X, or Q… but ended up with G). Not that it’s even remotely a consideration, if we end up with a 3rd and it’s a boy, I WILL revive it as a name option, even if it doesn’t go stylistically with the other two… I like it that much!
Thanks for covering the name, Abby!!!! It is a favorite!
I really like Zebedee!
My first association is with ‘The Magic Roundabout’ – so all my British friends and family would think I was nuts, if I used the name. But I was excited when I found out that the name is in the Bible too – giving it credibility beyond a kids cartoon. The name did show up in a Bible reading when I was pregnant with our son – but my husband wasn’t a fan of the name – too weird for him and he doesn’t even know ‘The Magic Roundabout’.
JNE – now I want to use Oliver Zebedee! We have very similar tastes in names.
I’d be excited if you did get to use Zebedee as a first name.
Me too…. but right now, I can’t imagine having a third!
Oooh and another big plus for Oliver Zebedee is that we could use the nickname Oz! When we were considering Oliver it seemed strange to go from a one syllable girl’s name (Rose) to a three syllable boy’s name – so we needed a nickname for Oliver, but we weren’t really into ‘Ollie’. I like Oz though. Not sure hubby would go for that either though!
Or having a third.
Ooh … Oliver Zebedee called Oz? That’s just fabulous.
Now I’m suffering namers remorse for going with George in the middle spot… not really, I couldn’t have left George behind… but kinda sorta a tiny bit
Aww, I didn’t mean to give you namer’s remorse! George is cool! I’m starting to like him as a first name again. I did just read Curious George to my 2 year old.
I totally have middle name remorse over my daughter’s middle name – having neither name picked before she was born and then feeling pressured to come up with a middle name right on the spot after choosing a first name. (Hubby wanted to wait until he called his parents (who live locally) until we could announce both names – I think we called before we picked a middle name. Wish I’d gone with something more unusual or with family significance.)
I instant messaged hubby and asked if we could have a boy and call him Oliver Zebedee “Oz” and he just laughed.
British American, That’s not a no!
And Oliver Zebedee nn Oz is such an awesome name. I would definitely put that one on the site.
@BritishAmerican – remind me of Rose’s middle… I’m sure it’s lovely!
I’m plenty happy with George, really; it leaves Zebedee for a possibility in the future, even if I’m pretty sure that won’t happen. (I said that after Imogen too, so it goes to show how much I know!) I’d be thrilled to hear of an Oliver Zebedee nn Oz somewhere out there… Oz is right up my ally (Oscar was on our top 3, take-to-the-hospital, list).
Rose is Rose Abigail – pretty much because I wanted something with three syllables to balance out her first name.
Rose Araminta would have been much cooler! 
I guess hubby already knows someone who goes by Oz and that’s putting him off that far away possibility.
Rose was going to be Oscar if she had have been a boy! Though Henry didn’t end up being Oscar. The Oscar Meier wiener song was an issue for me. I do like the letter O though.
Just wait until Oliver is 2-3 and maybe you’ll reconsider!
Rose Abigail is lovely.
Thanks!
Rose seems to think her name is Rose *last name* Abigail. Then sometimes to tease her, I throw out a random middle name and then she’s quite adamant that she’s Rose Abigail.
And I do like the “father’s joy” meaning.
I love the nickname Zeb no matter how you get to it. The only one I’ve known IRL had a brother Heath, so maybe they liked one-syllable names. Both sounded good with their last name.
Zebedee is my favorite boy Z name. It’s awesome. I love how it sounds and rolls from my both, and Zeb is awesome.
Zebedee sounds fun, and I do like Zeb as a nickname too. Another Z name I am fond of is Zebulon- I’ve like that name ever since I heard it in U.S. History class
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