Zev

Zev - A very unique male name

Zev appeared on the charts for the first time in 1954 on position #1544. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Zev and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Zev? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Zev. The baby boy name Zev was given to 230 baby boys in 2025, ranking #868 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 6,375 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Zev peaked in popularity 6 years ago in 2020 on position 863.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Zev, 1-5?

Zev is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Zev is currently topping the baby name charts in New York at position #172 - and is the least popular in Texas at position #1,650.

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 Zev is where you live.

---

Comment and discuss

---

Zev origin and meaning

Hebrew

From Hebrew ze'ev, 'wolf'

Zev is the Hebrew wolf name, used since biblical times as a name in its own right and as the traditional Hebrew counterpart to names like Wolf and Benjamin (the 'ravenous wolf' of Jacob's blessing). In the US data since 1954 it has been a small, steady Jewish choice; its ranking slipped slightly even as its 2025 births hit a high, because the charts around it moved faster.

Attested etymology

Zev is a 3 letter name with 1 syllables.

To see famous people named Zev, pop culture references for the name Zev and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Zev

We've found the following names that sound similar to Zev, sorted by popularity.

Zeb / Zvi / Zevi / Zohaib / Ziv / Zavi /

---

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)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Zev

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 Zev 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 Zev?

1 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

ZEV · /zɛv/
In Hebrew the name is two syllables (ze-EV); in American English it is almost always one

Around the world

• Ze'ev (Hebrew) — The fuller transliteration of the same Hebrew name

Spellings and nicknames

• Zeev — A transliteration spelling of the same name

Famous bearers

None yet — no bearer for this name is documented well enough for us to list, so we show none rather than pad the list.

Style

InternationalNature

Why parents choose it

Zev is three letters of pure economy — ancient, strong and animal, for parents who like names that waste nothing.

Worth knowing

• To most Americans it is unfamiliar and may be heard as 'Zed' or 'Sev'
• The wolf meaning delights some children and not others