Zoe
Zoe is a girls' name of Greek origin meaning “life.” It ranked #29 in the United States in 2025. From the Greek 'zoe' meaning life.
how do you pronounce Zoe?
ZOH-ee
Hear it spoken aloud with our AI pronunciation tool.
what does Zoe mean?
The name Zoe means “life.” It comes from the Greek language tradition.
From the Greek 'zoe' meaning life. It was used by early Greek-speaking Christians as a translation of the Hebrew name Eve. Popular in both ancient and modern times across many cultures.
where does the name Zoe come from?
From the Greek ζωή, meaning life. Hellenistic Jewish translators used it to render Eve's name in the Greek Old Testament, since the Hebrew Chava also means life — so Zoe and Eve are the same name in two languages.
the history of Zoe
That translation choice is why Zoe was taken up by early Christians in Alexandria, and two Byzantine empresses bore it, including Zoe Porphyrogenita, who ruled in her own right in the eleventh century. The name was almost unknown in English before the nineteenth century and rose steeply from the 1970s onward.
how popular is this name?
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2024 | #29 |
| 2023 | #30 |
| 2022 | #30 |
| 2021 | #31 |
| 2020 | #32 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset
what are the nicknames and variants of Zoe?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
who are famous people named Zoe?
- Zoe Saldana (actress)
- Zoe Kravitz (actress)
- Zoe Ball (television presenter)
what names are similar to Zoe?
what names go well with Zoe?
Sibling names that share Zoe's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
Last reviewed April 30, 2026 · Curated by HushName editorial
love Zoe? get 10 more names curated for your family.
Popularity rankings and meanings are just the starting point. Our AI consultant finds names that match your heritage, style, and what matters most to you.
Completely free. No credit card required.
start free consultation