Zev
Boy name · #865 in 2025 · Uniqueness 58/100
In 2025, 277 baby boys were named Zev, placing it at #865 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1162, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 6,498 boys born in 2025 was named Zev.
The 74-year story
Zev first appears in the Social Security records in 1951, when 6 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2025, with 277 babies and a rank of #864. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. 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.
Babies named Zev per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Zev against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Zev in class?
Zev scores 58 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Zev is most common
Geography matters for names, and Zev is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Zevs were NY (112), NJ (46), CA (25), FL (12), TX (11). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Zev
Statistically, parents drawn to Zev tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Lev, Zeke, Zyon, Zahir, and Zen.
LevZekeZyonZahirZenZaydIsaZamir
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Zev | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 277 | #864 |
| 2024 | 263 | #899 |
| 2023 | 267 | #878 |
| 2022 | 239 | #950 |
| 2021 | 227 | #977 |
| 2020 | 250 | #899 |
| 2019 | 195 | #1052 |
| 2018 | 215 | #964 |
| 2017 | 193 | #1042 |
| 2016 | 161 | #1180 |
| 2015 | 160 | #1162 |
| 2014 | 153 | #1201 |
| 2013 | 160 | #1135 |
| 2012 | 150 | #1195 |
| 2011 | 122 | #1371 |
| 2010 | 133 | #1292 |
| 2009 | 115 | #1453 |
| 2008 | 117 | #1428 |
| 2007 | 119 | #1380 |
| 2006 | 115 | #1387 |
| 2005 | 78 | #1711 |
| 2004 | 74 | #1720 |
| 2003 | 75 | #1656 |
| 2002 | 71 | #1660 |
| 2001 | 74 | #1600 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Zev a popular boy name?
Zev ranked #865 among boys in 2025 with 277 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1162.
When was the name Zev most popular?
Zev peaked in 2025, when 277 American boys received the name (ranked #864 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Zev?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 6,498 newborn American boys was named Zev. It scores 58/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.