Zane
Zane was the 324th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 1,051 babies. Its best year was 2018, when it ranked 199th with 2,033 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 92 places. More babies were named Zane in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning Origin uncertain · American English, Italian, Arabic
Say it ZAYN /zeɪn/
- Rank in 2025
- #324 boys, down 66 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 1,051boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 20182,033 babies
- Total since 1880
- 57,228babies recorded
What does the name Zane mean?
Zane has several explanations, Wiktionary and Wikipedia say. Its American use seems to date from the Western novelist Zane Grey (1875 to 1939), whose middle name came from his mother's family surname, of unknown meaning. It is also explained as a form of John, through Venetian Zane for Gianni, and sometimes as a spelling of the Arabic name Zayn, 'beauty'. Because the sources differ, we do not give it one meaning.
Zane (Venetian, “form of Gianni (John)”)زَيْن (Arabic, “zayn, beauty”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. Several possible sources (a family surname, Venetian John, Arabic Zayn).
Related names: Zayn, Zain, Zander, John.
See also: American names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Zane', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Zane', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Zane popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 564 since 1919.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #324 | 1,051 |
| 2020 | #258 | 1,362 |
| 2010 | #239 | 1,463 |
| 2000 | #246 | 1,368 |
| 1990 | #435 | 510 |
| 1980 | #631 | 193 |
| 1970 | #691 | 145 |
| 1960 | #717 | 119 |
| 1950 | #826 | 69 |
| 1940 | #750 | 68 |
| 1930 | #737 | 75 |
| 1920 | #1,156 | 39 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Zane, counting every spelling?
Zane is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #332 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #324 for Zane on its own. Together these spellings went to 1,056 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zane | 1,051 | #324 | 6,222 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Zane?
1,051 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Zane (0.29 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Zane born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 8 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Zane.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Zane?
About 53,300 people born in the US named Zane are alive today, with a median age of 18; half are between 10 and 27. That makes Zane mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Zane by state
How common Zane was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Hawaii (4.2×), West Virginia (2.4×), North Dakota (1.7×), New Mexico (1.6×), Idaho (1.6×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Zane: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Zane, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Zane · Sibling names for Zane
Questions about the name Zane
What does Zane mean?
The origin of Zane is uncertain: several possible sources (a family surname, Venetian John, Arabic Zayn).
How popular is the name Zane?
Zane was the 324th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 1,051 babies. Its best year was 2018, when it ranked 199th with 2,033 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 92 places. More babies were named Zane in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Zane a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Zane in the US.
Where is Zane most popular?
In 2021–2025, Zane was most common in Hawaii (3.03 per 1,000 boys), followed by West Virginia and North Dakota.