There’s something fascinating about the letter Z. It’s the slashing mark of Zorro, the end of the line. A name that starts there seems exotic, daring, a tiny bit more interesting than one that starts with C or J or R.
Zachary is far and away the most popular, but he’s been in the US Top 100 since 19
Plenty of Z names have been profiled here over the past four years, and it seems like a good moment to stop and review those zippy – and fetching – Z names.
Cruz – The Beckhams put this name on the map. Great for the hero of a romance novel, possibly tough to see on a small boy. But Cruz does have a long history of use, long before the celebrity couple considered the name.
Ezekiel – Possibly the name to watch from this list, Ezekiel has been the preferred formal name for parents who want to call their boy Zeke. Some, of course, are just opting for Zeke on the birth certificate.
Fritz – He’s German and vaguely feline, but if Frederick makes a comeback, he could become an unexpected go-to short form.
Xavier – Sometimes respelled Zavier, he’s a saintly surname with a very modern vibe. Indecisive? Xzavier has been seen, too – though the Xz feels excessive.
Zane – With little cowboys answering to Gage and Cade, no wonder Zane has seen steady use in the last few years. He’s also a possible short form of the oh-so popular Alexander. Alexander’s last two syllables have also given us Xander and Zander in recent years.
Zarek – A Slavic diminutive with a sci-fi vibe, Zarek seems unlikely to catch on – but with his similarity to Derek, he might still be wearable.
Zebedee – A New Testament fisherman, this name is wildly different. And yet, with Elijah and Isaiah in the US Top 1000, he no longer feels outlandish. Short form Zeb feels very cool, too.
Zebulon – Not quite as rare as Zebedee, and just as valid a way to get to Zeb, Zebulon Pike lends this name some mountain-climbing cool. There are a handful of colonial Zebulons, too, making this name right at home with Nathaniel.
Zenas – A New Testament lawyer turned evangelist and eventually a saint, Zenas surfaces from time to time, but seems likely to remain the rarest of the Z names.
Zephyr – A nature name thanks to the Greek god of the west wind, Zephyr shortens to Zef – Jeff with a Z. He’s most often use as a name for a train or a car or a motorcycle, but between his zippy z and his -r ending, Zephyr might suit a twenty-first century boy just fine.
Zedekiah – Another Zed name, at home in the colonial era or our modern-day, very Biblical moment.
Zoltan – A Hungarian appellation sometimes worn by animatronic fortune tellers in amusement park machines, Zoltan is one of those names – eye-poppingly strange at first glance, but quickly blending in to the current group of ends-in-n boys’ names.
Are there other Z names that you would consider?
Even though it’s a diminutive, I’ve seen Zander used independently lately. Seconding Enzo and suggesting Ignazio and Kazimierz as well.
I know of a toddler Zander locally. 🙂
I know a Zander, born 2 months ago!
My favorite would have to be the unlisted, Ezra! I spotted a baby Ezra yesterday at the pediatrician’s office (thankfully a boy)…I also spotted TWO little girls named Rain/Rayne.
I know an older Zane (mid-fifties), he was named for author Zane Grey. Which is kind of funny because his parents also gave him Zane Grey’s first name, Pearl. He’s actually ok with it, never had trouble with it. Just prefers Zane 🙂
Zion is also another Z name I’ve seen popping up, amongst both boys and girls. For some reason, it’s starting to irritate me whenever I see a 3, 4, 5 year old Zion. Especially when their parents aren’t in the least religious.
Some other names I’ve come across are Blaz, Patriz, Ozer, Ozro, Denzil and Ezell. We have an Ezekiel in our family, but he goes by Kiel instead of Zeke. I do like ‘Z’ names, as long as they don’t sound like they are trying too hard.
I’ve known a Zarek, a Zane, and a Ziggy. I don’t really like any of these, but I do like Frederick.
Love these, although most of them feel more appropriate for fiction. I think Zarek might be a new love.
I really do like the name Zephyr, we don’t have railways called that here in the UK, so it’s not an issue. Fritz, on the other hand, just wouldn’t work here. Other male Z names I can think of are Enzo, Ezra and Jabez.
I spotted a toddler Fritz locally. Not sure if it was a nickname, but his Mom kept calling him Fritz at the kids museum and I couldn’t stop staring! 😛
Also know of a Zephyr locally.
I totally like Zebedee. It does bring ‘The Magic Roundabout’ to my mind first, but when it showed up in the scripture reading at church one day, I was like “Hey, we should use Zebedee!” to my husband. He said no. Maybe I should have pushed for it as a middle name. Though George Zebedee does sound a little strange. Being able to put Z. as your middle initial might be fun.
We were also looking for a fun middle initial… but we ended up with our two favorite names…. and G for George is awesome up front or in the middle!
I like Zephyr. Unexpected but zippy.
I actually like Ziggy, which is some times used as a shortening of Zachary.
Plus Ziggy Marley is just cool.
I love Z names! You covered all my favorite boys’ ones…Zebedee and Zebulon are my favorites. I’ve known a Zane before, I thought it was really cool to meet one! The only name on the list I don’t particularly care for is Cruz… it has too many connotations like cruise ship, going for a cruise, cruisin for a bruisin…no thanks.