Girl Names That Start With Z

Looking for a special name for a baby girl that begins with the letter Z? There are plenty of beautiful options to choose from. Some are common, while others are unique.

From fun and cool to cute and even biblical, each name carries a special meaning from different cultures around the world.

Popular Girl Names That Start With Z

Zoey

Zoey is the most popular name starting with Z for girls in the United States.

It has Greek origins, meaning “life.” The name was a common choice in the Byzantine Empire and experienced a revival in the nineteenth century.

Famous Zoeys include Zoey Deutch, Zoë Kravitz, and Zoe Saldaña. An interesting variant is Zooey, as in Zooey Deschanel.

Zara

Zara has two primary origins. It might be a diminutive of Zaharina from Bulgaria or inspired by a character in William Congreve’s play, The Mourning Bride.

In the play, Zara is a queen whose name may stem from the Arabic word Zahra, meaning “brilliant” or “bright.” Another theory is that it comes from the Hebrew word for “princess.”

Notable Zaras include Zara Anne Elizabeth Phillips, daughter of Princess Anne of England, singer Zara Larsson, and actress Zara Turner.

Zuri

Zuri is a beautiful name from East Africa. In Swahili, Zuri means “beautiful.” This name has gained popularity and is cherished for its lovely meaning and simplicity.

Zariah

Zariah is well-liked in the United States. It’s a variant of the names Zaria or Sariah. The name stands out for its unique sound while still being easy to pronounce.

Zelda

Zelda has origins in both Yiddish, derived from the name Zelig, and English, as a short form of Griselda.

It became particularly popular with the Legend of Zelda video games in the 1980s.

The game’s creator, Shigeru Miyamoto, named the princess character after Zelda Fitzgerald, the wife of writer F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Zahra

Zahra is rooted in Arabic, meaning “brilliant” or “bright.” The name is also an epithet for Fatimah, the daughter of Prophet Muhammad. Zahra is both meaningful and beautiful, making it a popular choice.

Zaylee

Zaylee is believed to be a modern name, possibly inspired by names like Kaylee, Haylee, and Bailey. Some also think it has Greek roots with the meaning “dry.” This name is contemporary and stylish.

Zariyah

Zariyah is another variant of Zariah. This name offers a fresh twist while still being familiar and easy to say. Its popularity speaks to its appealing sound and stylish undertone.

Zaniyah

Zaniyah is commonly found within the African-American community. It’s a variant of Zaniah, which has Arabic roots meaning “corner.”

Zaniah is also the medieval name of a star in the constellation of Virgo, making it an excellent name for a baby girl born under the Virgo sign.

Zaria

Zaria has two possible origins. It could be derived from Zahrah, which means “blossoming flower” in Arabic, or it might be the name of the Nigerian city of Zaria.

The name carries a sense of beauty and cultural richness.

Unique Girl Names That Start With Z

Zabel

Zabel is the Armenian form of Isabel. It was the name of a queen in the thirteenth-century in Cilician Armenia.

Zaira

Zaira comes from the Italian and Spanish forms of Zaïre. It was featured in Vincenzo Bellini’s opera Zaira, inspired by Voltaire’s play Zaïre.

Zenaida

Zenaida originates from Late Greek and is derived from Zenais, which relates to the Greek god Zeus, meaning “sky” or “shine.”

Zenaida was also a first-century doctor who became a saint.

Zaahira

Zaahira is the feminine version of the Arabic name Zaahir, meaning “to shine” or “to radiate.”

Zaharina

Zaharina is the feminine form of Zechariah in Bulgarian and North Macedonian, meaning “God remembers.”

Zarja

Zarja is the Slovenian form of Zora, which means “dawn” or “aurora” in the South and West Slavic languages.

Zeenat

Zeenat comes from the Urdu version of Zinat, a Persian name meaning “ornament.”

Zuzanka

Zuzanka is a Slovak and Czech diminutive of Zuzana, which is the regional form of Susanna.

Zuleika

Zuleika likely has Arabic origins, though its exact meaning is unknown.

It appears in the work of the fifteenth-century Persian poet Jami and was the biblical name of Potiphar’s wife.

This name is found globally, borne by figures such as Brazilian writer Zuleika Alambert, Armenian painter Zuleika Bazhbeuk-Melikyan, and Puerto Rican handball player Zuleika Fuentes.

Zodwa

Zodwa is used in southern Africa among speakers of Zulu, Xhosa, and Ndebele. It is a short form of Ntombizodwa, meaning “only girls” in these languages.

Hebrew and Biblical Girl Names That Start With Z

Zibiah

Zibiah is mentioned in the Old Testament as the mother of King Joash of Judah. The name translates to “gazelle” or “doe” in Hebrew.

Zillah

Zillah means “shade” in Hebrew. It was the name of the second wife of Lamech in the Old Testament.

Zilpah

Zilpah was the handmaid given to Jacob by Leah in the Old Testament. The name means “frailty” in Hebrew.

Zipporah

Zipporah comes from the Hebrew name Tzipporah, meaning “bird.” She was the wife of Moses and the daughter of Jethro in the Old Testament.

Zilpa

Zilpa is the Spanish, French, Italian, and Dutch variation of Zilpah.

Zelpha

Zelpha is the Greek and Latin form of Zilpah.

Zohar

Zohar means “light” and “brilliance” in Hebrew. It is also the name of an important work in Jewish mystical literature known as the Kabbalah.

Ziv

Ziv means “bright” and “radiant” in Hebrew.

It was the ancient name for the second month of the Jewish calendar, and it can be used for both boys and girls.

Ziva

Ziva is another feminine way to spell “Ziv.”

Zivit

Zivit is an additional feminine variation of spelling “Ziv.”

Cool Names That Start With Z for a Girl

Zaida

Zaida is derived from the Arabic word meaning “to increase.”

Historically, Zaida was the name of a Muslim princess who sought refuge in the court of King Alfonso VI of León and Castile during the 11th century.

Zaïre

Zaïre is believed to come from the Arabic name Zahra.

This name gained prominence from Voltaire’s play and was also used in Jean Racine’s play Bajazet.

In these works, Zaïre is depicted as a Christian woman who was set to marry a Sultan.

Zella

The origins of Zella are unclear, making it a bit of a mystery. First seen in the 19th century, this name is thought by some to be an invented name, adding to its unique and cool vibe.

Zemfira

Zemfira’s meaning is not well known, though it may have Romani roots.

The name appears in the poem The Gypsies by Aleksandr Pushkin.

Currently, it is primarily used in the Tatar and Bashkir regions of Russia, as well as in Azerbaijan.

Zena

Zena’s origin is a mystery, though it could be a variant of Xenia, meaning “hospitality” in Greek, or a diminutive of names like Alexina, Rosina, or Zenobia.

It has been in use since the 19th century and brings historical and cultural flavor.

Zendaya

Made popular by the actress Zendaya Coleman, this name comes from Tendai, a Zimbabwean name meaning “be thankful” in the Shona language. Zendaya’s influence has brought this name into the spotlight.

Zhihao

Zhihao is a name with varied meanings depending on its Chinese characters.

Zhi can mean “will,” “purpose,” “ambition,” “wisdom,” or “intellect,” while hao means “brave,” “heroic,” or “chivalrous.”

Zifa

Zifa comes from the Tatar and Bashkir communities in Russia. It is a form of Ziba, which means “beautiful” in Persian.

Zola

Zola has two possible origins. One is from a southern African language, Xhosa, meaning “calm.”

The other origin is uncertain, and it could even be invented. It has been in use in English-speaking regions since the 19th century.

It may also derive from an Italian surname, similar to the author Émile Zola.

Ziska

Ziska is a German diminutive form of Franziska. This short and sweet name adds European charm and is easy to pronounce.

International Z Names for Girls

Zaynab

Although the exact meaning of Zaynab is uncertain, it’s most likely related to the Arabic word zayn, meaning “beauty.”

It could also come from the name of a fragrant flowering tree. It’s also possible it comes from Zenobia, a name of a pre-Islamic queen of Palmira.

Zaynab was the name of a daughter, a granddaughter, and two wives of the Prophet Muhammad.

Zaramama

This name comes from Peru and means the “grain mother” in the Quechua language.

Zaramama was also the Inca goddess of grain, so if you’re looking for an interesting name and you or your family have Peruvian heritage, this is a lovely choice.

Zdislava

This is the Czech feminine name for Zdzisław, which has its roots in the words meaning “build” and “glory.”

Thirteenth-century saint, Zdislava Berka, was a famous bearer of this name in Czech history.

Zedong

Zedong is a name used by both men and women in China. It means “moist,” “grace,” or “brilliance” and “east.”

Zhaklina

This is the Bulgarian form of Jacqueline, so if you’re looking for an alternative spelling, or maybe you have some connection to Bulgaria, this could be a lovely name.

Zhyrgal

Coming from Kyrgyzstan, Zhyrgal is an alternative transcription of Jyrgal. Jyrgal means “happiness” in Kyrgyz.

Zoja

Zoja is a form of Zoe in the Baltic and South Slavic languages. It is used in languages like Latvian, Lithuanian, Slovene, Serbian, Croatian, and North Macedonia.

Zsuzsanna

This lovely name is the Hungarian form of Susanna. There are many Zsuzsannas who have competed in the Olympic games. Some of them include Hungarian fencer Zsuzsanna Szőcs and Zsuzsanna Vörös.

Zvonimira

Zvonimira is the Croatian feminine form of Zvonimir. It has its roots in the Slavic elements zvonu and miru, meaning “sound” or “chime” and “peace,” respectively.

Zorana

Zorana is a Serbian and Croatian girl’s name with its roots in the West and South Slavic word meaning “dawn” or “aurora.”

Beautiful Girl Names That Start With Z

Zarina

Zarina is a name that is mostly used by Kazakh, Urdu, and Malay speakers. It has its roots in the Persian word zarin, which means “golden.” Historically, Zarina was the name of a Scythian queen, according to the fifth-century Greek historian Ctesias.

Zenobia

Zenobia hails from ancient Greek, meaning “life of Zeus.” This name is steeped in history, mainly known through Zenobia, the third-century queen of Palmyra. She was known for expanding her empire into Roman territories after defeating Emperor Aurelian. Zenobia could also be a Greek translation of her native Aramaic name.

Zéphyrine

Zéphyrine is a French girls’ name, the feminine form of Zephyrinus. The name comes from the Greek word for the “west wind.”

Zinnia

Zinnia is the name of a flower named after the German botanist Johann Zinn.

Zoraida

Zoraida is a Spanish name with possible origins from the Arabic word meaning “enchanting” or “dawn.” A twelfth-century saint in Spain who converted from Islam to Christianity carried this name. Additionally, Zoraida appears in Cervantes’s Don Quixote as a character who is a beautiful Moorish woman from Algiers, converts to Christianity, and elopes with a Spanish officer.

Zubaida

Zubaida is a name used among Urdu and Arabic speakers. It means “elite,” “prime,” or “cream” in Arabic. This name was also borne by a ninth-century woman who was the wife of Harun al-Rashid, the Abbasid caliph featured in The 1001 Nights.

Zsóka

Zsóka is a Hungarian name that started as a diminutive of Erzsébet, the Hungarian form of Elizabeth. Today, it is often used as a name on its own.

Zosime

Zosime is rooted in ancient Greece and is the feminine form of Zosimos, which means “viable” or “likely to survive.”

Zorica

Zorica is a Serbian, Croatian, and North Macedonian diminutive of Zora. The name means “dawn” or “aurora” in South and West Slavic languages.

Zlata

Zlata is used across various Slavic countries, including the Balkans, Russia, Czechia, and Slovakia. The name is the feminine form of Zlatan, meaning “golden.”

Cute and Pretty Girl Names That Start With Z

Zala

Zala is a charming Slovene name that comes from Rozalija. This name carries a sweet and simple sound, making it both cute and pretty.

Zane

In English-speaking places, Zane is often a boys’ name. In Latvia, though, it’s a version of Susanna. This name stands out with its classic elegance.

Zita

Zita is popular in many European countries, such as Portugal, Italy, and Germany. In Tuscan Italian, it means “little girl” and is associated with a saint from the thirteenth century. In Hungary, it’s linked to Felicitás, signifying luck or fortune. Famous bearer: Zita of Bourbon-Parma.

Zrinka

This unique name, Zrinka, is found in Croatia. It likely derives from the village of Zrin or the noble family Zrinski. It has a distinct and noble feel to it.

Zula

A name with diverse origins, Zula can be a Polish diminutive of Zuzanna. It might also have connections to the Zulu tribe in Africa. This name became known in English during the nineteenth century.

Zhenya

Zhenya is a diminutive used in Russia and Bulgaria. It stems from Yevgeniya and Evgeniya and links back to a Greek word meaning “well born.” This name is both cute and historically rich.

Zhannochka

In Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus, Zhannochka is a sweet diminutive of Zhanna. The roots of this name trace back to Jeanne, giving it an international touch.

Zenzi

This adorable German name, Zenzi, comes from Kreszenz, which is the German form of Crescentia. The name is derived from the Latin word crescere, meaning “to grow,” giving it a sense of growth and life.

Zelma

If you like the name Selma, consider Zelma as an alternative spelling. Swapping an “S” for a “Z” adds a unique twist to this classic name.

Zélie

Zélie is a lovely short form of Azélie. It was famously used by a nineteenth-century saint, Marie-Azélie Guérin, who often went by this name.

This name brings with it a sense of grace and history.