Zoe Overview
- Meaning: The meaning of Zoe is “life.”
- Gender: The name Zoe is a traditionally feminine name.
- Origin: Zoe and many of its variations are Greek in origin.
- Pronunciation: Zoe is pronounced ZOH-ee.
- Popularity: The name Zoe is considered very popular.
- Nicknames: Zo, Zozo, Zoze.
- Variations: Zoë, Zoey, Zooey.
- Namesakes: Zooey Deschanel, actress.
What Does Zoe Mean?
The name Zoe means ‘life’ in Greek (1).
Zoe can also mean ‘eternal life’ since it often refers to God and Jesus in the Bible. When parents choose the name Zoe, the context is often about God granting eternal life to humans.
What is the Origin of the Name Zoe?
Beginning as Eve in Hebrew, this name went through translation to become what it is today. When the ancient Greeks translated the Bible from Hebrew to Greek, they changed the name Eve to Zoe.
How Popular is the Name Zoe?
Since 2000, Zoe has climbed from rank 82 in the U.S. to 41 in 2020. Zoe hit its highest peak in the last few decades in 2012, ranking 30.
Today, there are 10,082 people with the name Zoe in the U.S. That makes Zoe the 1951st most popular first name in the U.S..
How Do I Pronounce Zoe?
The name Zoe is pronounced very similarly to how it is spelled: ZOH-ee. It is usually the same pronunciation regardless of the various spellings of the name.
A common mispronunciation of the name is to say: ZOH. This would not be accurate because the name requires you to pronounce both the ‘o’ and the ‘e.’
Is Zoe a Boy or Girl Name?
Overwhelmingly, Zoe is used as a girl’s name.
In the U.S., more than 99% of the people named Zoe are female, but if you want to mix things up, give it a shot as a boy’s name!
What is the Origin of the Name Zoe?
Beginning as Eve in Hebrew, this name went through translation to become what it is today. When the ancient Greeks translated the Bible from Hebrew to Greek, they changed the name Eve to Zoe.
How Popular is the Name Zoe?
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Name Database, Zoe has steadily increased in popularity over the last few decades (2).
Since 2000, Zoe has climbed from rank 82 in the U.S. to 41 in 2020. Zoe hit its highest peak in the last few decades in 2012, ranking 30.
How Do I Pronounce Zoe?
The name Zoe is pronounced very similarly to how it is spelled: ZOH-ee. It is usually the same pronunciation regardless of the various spellings of the name.
A common mispronunciation of the name is to say: ZOH. This would not be accurate because the name requires you to pronounce both the ‘o’ and the ‘e.’
Is Zoe a Boy or Girl Name?
Overwhelmingly, Zoe is a girl’s name.
In the U.S., more than 99% of the people named Zoe are female.
Variations of Zoe
While there aren’t many cultural variations of the name, Zoe can be spelled dozens of different ways. Some of the most common include:
- Zoë
- Zoé
- Zöe
- Zoee
- Zoey
- Zoí
- Zoi
- Zoie
- Zoeigh
- Zooey
- Zowe
- Zoy
- Zoya
Nicknames for Zoe
Zoe is already a short and sweet name, but you may want to still call her some cute nicknames. Don’t worry because plenty of good ones exist for the name Zoe.
Some of the best nicknames for Zoe are:
- Ohee
- Zaza
- Zee
- Zeezee
- Ziggy
- Zo
- Zoers
- Zoze
- Zozo
Similar Names to Zoe
If you’re looking for names that could be an alternative to the name Zoe, look no further because these are some of the best similar sounding and looking names:
- Chloe
- Sophie
- Sadie
- Sammy
If you’re looking for other girl names that start with Z, here are some of the best options:
- Zuri
- Zara
- Zelda
- Zena
- Zafira
- Zada
Middle Names for Zoe
Because Zoe is such a unique name and begins with one of the least-used letters in the English alphabet, the middle name can go one of two ways: equally unique and attention-grabbing or smooth and calm to add contrast.
Here are some of the best unique middle names for Zoe:
- Cornelia
- Daphne
- Eliza
- Fiona
- Gisella
- Harmony
- Ivy
- Jade
- June
- Rae
- Skye
- Violet
- Willow
And if you’re looking for something more grounding to pair with your unique Zoe, here are the best traditional middle names for Zoe:
- Anne
- Beth
- Brooke
- Claire
- Grace
- Kate
- Louise
- Marie
- Mary
- Rose
- Sarah
Sibling Names for Zoe
If you’re looking for what to name Zoe’s sister, we’ve got some of the best options here:
- Ana
- Ava
- Elise
- Esme
- Lily
- Lola
And if you want to find a boy name to go with your girl, try:
- Zavier
- Zachary
- Zane
- Eli
- Ian
- Owen
Famous People Named Zoe
The name Zoe has historically created a lot of successful individuals as well because there are many famous people named Zoe:
- Zoë Porphyrogenita: Byzantine empress.
- Zoe Palaiologina: Tsar Ivan III of Russia’s wife.
- Zoe Cassavetes: Greek director, screenwriter, and actress known for Broken English.
- Zooey Deschanel: American actress and musician known for “New Girl.”
- Zoë Kravitz: American actress, singer, and model – the daughter of Lenny Kravitz.
- Zoe Saldana: American actress that starred in the film “Avatar.”
- Zoé Allaire-Bourgie: Canadian artistic gymnast.
Zoe in Popular Culture
Zoe has also been used frequently as the name for fictional characters in media and popular culture. Some of the most well-known include:
- Zoe: Main character from “The Back-Up Plan,” portrayed by Jennifer Lopez.
- Zoey: Dawn’s rival in the “Pokemon” anime.
- Zoe: Muppet from “Sesame Street.”
- Zoe Baker: Character in TV series “This Is Us.”
- Zoe Barnes: Character in TV series “House of Cards.”
- Zoey Bartlet: Character in TV series “The West Wing.”
- Zoey Brooks: Main character in the TV series “Zoey 101.”
- Zoë Nightshade: Character from the “Percy Jackson & the Olympians” book series.
- Zoey Pierson: Character in TV series “How I Met Your Mother.”
Zoe FAQs
Is Zoe a Name in the Bible?
Yes, Zoe is the Greek translation of the name Eve from the Hebrew Bible. It also means ‘life,’ so the name Zoe was often used as a common word in the Greek Bible.
Is Zoe Short for Anything?
Usually, no, there is not a name that Zoe is short for. Some names may have found a way to make Zoe an appropriate nickname, but there is no official name with Zoe for a nickname.
Is It Zoe or Zoey?
The spelling depends on personal preference and sometimes on region/background. Both are common and accepted ways to spell the name.
Is Zoe a Rare Name?
Zoe is a lot less rare than it used to be. The name continually ranks inside the top 100 most popular names in the U.S. each year, so it is very popular.
