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Baby Names Starting
with
Z
ZACHARY: From the
Hebrew for "God remembers" or "renowned is
God." Zachary is a newcomer to the top-fifty most
popular boys' names in the United States, first becoming
noticeable in the eighties. Relatives: Zacharias, Zakary,
Zacarius, Zaccheus, Zaccaria, Zachariah, Zechairah, Zackry,
Zach, Zack, Zak. Namesakes: Saint Zachary, Zachary Taylor.
ZANE: A variation of
John. Buy this baby cowboy boots and typewriter. Namesake:
Zane Grey.
ZARA: Hebrew for
"dawn" and Arabic for "princess." An
unusual shift from the more standard Sara. Princess Anne
and Mark Phillips chose this name for their daughter.
Relatives: Zarah, Zarry, Zari, Zerlinda.
ZEBULON: From the
Hebrew for "home." This may sound like an
Italian desert, but it has a pleasant derivation.
Namesake: Zebulon Weaver.
ZELDA: An
abbreviated version of Griselda. For baby boomers, Zelda
will forever be associated with "Dobie Gills."
Namesake: Zelda Fitzgerald.
ZENOBIA: From the
Greek for "of Zeus." Zenobia was the queen of
Palmyra in the third century and was the epitome of
ambitious zeal. Relatives: Zenobie, Zena, Zenna, Zenina.
ZEPHYR: From the
Greek for "wind." According to ancient
mythology, Zephyr was the god of the west wind. This is
really quite pretty. Namesake: "Zephyr" (monkey
in the Babar books).
ZERA: From the
Hebrew for "seeds." Relative: Zero. Namesake:
Zero Mostel.
ZEV: From the Hebrew
for "deer." Since Zachary has become so popular,
why not consider the lesser-known "Z's" such as
Zev? Relatives: Zvi, Zevie, Zivia, Ziva, Zeva.
ZINNIA: A flower
named in honor of J.G. Zinn. Relatives: Zinia, Zin, Zina.
Namesake: Zina Garrison.
ZIPPORA: From the
Hebrew for "trumpet" or "sparrow."
Relatives: Zipporah, Sippora, Sipporah. Namesakes: the
wife of Moses, Zippo lighters.
ZOE: From the Greek
for "life." A gem of a name with a meaningful
derivation. Namesakes: Zoë Wanamaker, Zoe Caldwell.
ZORA: Slavic for
"golden dawn." Realtives: Zorah, Zohra, Zarya,
Zoranna, Zorina, Zori, Zorie,Zorry, Zorro. Namesakes: Zora
Neale Hurston, "Zorro."
ZULEIKA: From the
Arabic for "fair-haired." In Max Beerbohm's
novel, Zuleika Dobson, the heroine destroys young men with
her beauty. Namesakes: wife of Potiphar, Byronic heroine
in "The Bride of Abydos."
ZURIEL: Hebrew for
"God is my rock." An interesting spin on Muriel.
~ THE BEST NAME FOR
YOUR BABY: A CREATIVE GUIDE TO PROPER NAMES, by Barbara
Binswanger and Lisbeth Mark. Henry Holt and Co., New York,
1990.
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