Zephaniah - A very unique male name
Zephaniah at a glance
Zephaniah is ranked #1797 among boy baby names in 2025, with 45 births in 2025. It peaked in 2019 at #1227 and first appeared on the charts in 1996.
- Rank in 2025
- #1797
- Births in 2025
- 45
- Peak year
- 2019 (#1227)
- First appeared
- 1996
- Trend
- #1583 in 2020 → #1797 in 2025 (Falling)
- Popularity
- 1 in 32,584 boys
- Visitor rating
- 4.8/5 (24 recent votes)
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration · Data through 2025 · Updated 2026
With that position 1 in 32,584 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Zephaniah peaked in popularity 7 years ago in 2019 on position 1227.
Famous with this name
Benjamin Zephaniah
Zephaniah Terry
Zephaniah Moore
How would you rate Zephaniah, 1-5?
Zephaniah is currently topping the charts in...
Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Zephaniah is currently topping the baby name charts in Colorado at position #965 - and is the least popular in Texas at position #1,907.Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Zephaniah is where you live.
Comment and discuss
Zephaniah origin and meaning
Hebrew (Biblical)
'Yahweh has hidden / protected' — from Hebrew Tsephanyah, combining a root meaning 'to hide, treasure up' with the divine name Yah
Zephaniah is the Old Testament prophet whose book denounces corruption and promises restoration. The name itself barely appeared in modern American data until 1996 — earlier generations used it, but below the reporting threshold — and it peaked in 2019 among families choosing grand, less-used biblical names. It is now easing down.
Attested etymology
Zephaniah is a 9 letter name with 4 syllables.
To see famous people named Zephaniah, pop culture references for the name Zephaniah and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.Similar to Zephaniah
We've found the following names that sound similar to Zephaniah, sorted by popularity.
Zavion / Zayvion / Zavian / Zavien / Zayvian / Zaven / Zayven / Zephan / Zayvien / Zubin /Name statistics
Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better
understanding of how popular or unique this name is.
With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually
differ a lot from state to state.
Chart position per year (visualized)
Chart position per state (visualized)
Chart position per year (table view)
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 1797 |
| 2024 | 1337 |
| 2023 | 1588 |
| 2022 | 1598 |
| 2021 | 1379 |
| 2020 | 1583 |
| 2019 | 1227 |
| 2018 | 1310 |
| 2017 | 1259 |
| 2016 | 1284 |
| 2015 | 1392 |
| 2014 | 1407 |
| 2013 | 1413 |
| 2012 | 1529 |
| 2011 | 1588 |
| 2010 | 1527 |
| 2009 | 1575 |
| 2008 | 1661 |
| 2007 | 1802 |
| 2006 | 1723 |
| 2005 | 1935 |
| 2004 | 2256 |
| 2003 | 2515 |
| 2002 | 2305 |
| 2001 | 2758 |
| 2000 | 2019 |
| 1999 | 3763 |
| 1998 | 2386 |
| 1996 | 2803 |
Chart position per state (table view)
| State | Rank |
|---|---|
| Colorado | 965 |
| Michigan | 1254 |
| California | 1298 |
| Pennsylvania | 1436 |
| Florida | 1828 |
| Texas | 1907 |
Even more about Zephaniah
These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.
Is Zephaniah a common or unique name?
By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.What is the number of syllables for the name Zephaniah?
4 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.Pronunciation
zef-uh-NY-uh · /zɛfəˈnaɪə/
Around the world
No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.
Spellings and nicknames
- Zephania — A rare shortened spelling.
Nicknames: Zeph
Famous bearers
- Zephaniah — Hebrew prophet of the Old Testament, author of the Book of Zephaniah (Biblical) Historical
Style
Biblical
Why parents choose it
Zephaniah is a majestic, genuinely biblical choice for families who find Isaiah and Jeremiah too well worn. It has real substance and a friendly shortening in Zeph.
Worth knowing
- At four syllables it will be shortened, and spelling (ph, final h) will trip people up.
