Zev
Boy name · #865 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Zev? In official American birth records, Zev has been tracked continuously since 1951, giving it 74 years of documented American history.
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. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Zev against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Zev in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Zev is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Zev will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Zev is most common
Geography matters for names, and Zev is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Zev is most common in NY (1.3 per 1,000), NJ (1.2 per 1,000), CA (0.1 per 1,000), FL (0.1 per 1,000), TX (0.1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.2 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Zev is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
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
How old is the name Zev?
In official American birth records, the name Zev first appeared in 1951 (over 74 years ago), when 6 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 74 years.
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. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.