Zephaniah
Boy name · #1456 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Zephaniah? In official American birth records, Zephaniah has been tracked continuously since 1972, giving it 53 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 123 baby boys were named Zephaniah, placing it at #1456 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1406, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 14,634 boys born in 2025 was named Zephaniah.
Babies named Zephaniah per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 53-year story
Zephaniah first appears in the Social Security records in 1972, when 7 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2019, when 171 boys were named Zephaniah — good for #1136 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Zephaniah against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Zephaniah in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Zephaniah is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Zephaniah will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Zephaniah is most common
State-level data for Zephaniah is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Zephaniah
Statistically, parents drawn to Zephaniah tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Zechariah, Micaiah, Jessiah, Obadiah, and Jeriah.
ZechariahMicaiahJessiahObadiahJeriahJahsiahJedidiahZakariah
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Zephaniah | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 123 | #1451 |
| 2024 | 144 | #1332 |
| 2023 | 125 | #1449 |
| 2022 | 119 | #1516 |
| 2021 | 132 | #1383 |
| 2020 | 125 | #1390 |
| 2019 | 171 | #1136 |
| 2018 | 152 | #1224 |
| 2017 | 138 | #1306 |
| 2016 | 144 | #1266 |
| 2015 | 122 | #1406 |
| 2014 | 123 | #1385 |
| 2013 | 129 | #1326 |
| 2012 | 117 | #1419 |
| 2011 | 117 | #1411 |
| 2010 | 108 | #1503 |
| 2009 | 109 | #1518 |
| 2008 | 121 | #1399 |
| 2007 | 109 | #1464 |
| 2006 | 91 | #1596 |
| 2005 | 85 | #1603 |
| 2004 | 75 | #1701 |
| 2003 | 63 | #1870 |
| 2002 | 66 | #1744 |
| 2001 | 59 | #1871 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Zephaniah?
In official American birth records, the name Zephaniah first appeared in 1972 (over 53 years ago), when 7 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 53 years.
Is Zephaniah a popular boy name?
Zephaniah ranked #1456 among boys in 2025 with 123 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1406.
When was the name Zephaniah most popular?
Zephaniah peaked in 2019, when 171 American boys received the name (ranked #1136 that year). Since 2019 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Zephaniah?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 14,634 newborn American boys was named Zephaniah. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.