Dog Names That Start With Z

  1. Ziva
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "life"
    • Description:

      A zippy little international name. The Hebrew name relates to the month of Israeli independence, while the Slavic Ziva (also spelled Živa and Siva) is a goddess of love, life and fertility.
  2. Zelie
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "noble"
    • Description:

      A cute, zippy French saint's name that's picking up in popularity there, and starting to in the US as well. Zélie originated as a short form of Azélie, thought to derive from Adelaide via the Occitan form Azalaïs. Saint Zélie was born Marie-Azélie.
  3. Zella
    • Origin:

      African, Bobangi, Libyan place name, diminutive of Rosella, Marcella, Gizella, or Isabella
    • Meaning:

      "lacking nothing, one who knows the way"
    • Description:

      Sunny, sassy, and stylish, Zella is a multicultural and versatile choice which works across multiple languages. Popular back in the early 19th century, Zella is now catching the attention of cotemporary parent as a rival to Ella, Stella, and Della.
  4. Zariah
    • Origin:

      Arabic, Hebrew, Russian
    • Meaning:

      "flower, God has helped, dawn"
    • Description:

      Zariah has three possible origins: the Arabic Zahrah which means ‘flower’, the Hebrew name Azariah, meaning ‘God has helped’, or the Russian word Zaria which means ‘sunrise/dawn’. Either way, it's a strong and striking name with a range of lovely meanings.
  5. Ziggy
    • Origin:

      German, diminutive of names beginning Sig/Zig
    • Meaning:

      "victory"
    • Description:

      Fitting in with Scottie, Stevie, Frankie, and Birdie, Ziggy is a nickname-y choice that feels energetic, cutesy, and cool. Borrowing star quality from Ziggy Stardust and Ziggy Marley, Ziggy is predominantly used on boys, however, since the death of David Bowie in 2016, it has been quietly gathering attention as a girls name, with 43 babies given the name in a recent year.
  6. Zadie
    • Origin:

      English variation of Sadie
    • Meaning:

      "princess"
    • Description:

      When aspiring British writer Sadie Smith decided to change her name to the more distinctive and zippy Zadie at the age of fourteen, this attention-magnet name was born. But though it might sound like a modern initial-switch, Zadie was actually Number 539 in 1881, remaining in the Top 1000 for almost thirty years.
  7. Zebulon
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "exaltation or little dwelling"
    • Description:

      An Old Testament name with a Puritan feel and post-Zachary possibilities--one of several routes to the cool nickname Zeb.
  8. Zendaya
    • Origin:

      Shona
    • Meaning:

      "to give thanks"
    • Description:

      Zendaya has propelled her unusual African name into the spotlight and up the popularity charts. Zendaya is one of the major baby name influencers of our era.
  9. Zaire
    • Origin:

      Place name, Congo
    • Meaning:

      "the river that swallows all rivers"
    • Description:

      Zaire was a Central African state from 1971 to 1997 that has recently risen up the charts as a boys name. Deriving from a Congo term meaning "the river that swallows all rivers", it makes a bold and wearable choice for a son.
  10. Zephyr
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "west wind"
    • Description:

      Zephyrus was the Greek god of the west wind, and all names associated with him have a pleasantly gentle, breezy feel. With its cool Z initial and similarity in sound to Stephie and Serafina, Zephyr has been rising up the US charts in recent years as a unisex name.
  11. Zenobia
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "force of Zeus"
    • Description:

      With historical roots as a beautiful and intelligent ancient queen and literary ties to Hawthorne and Edith Wharton novels, this rarity could appeal to adventurous parents seeking the romantically unusual. Tina Fey used it as her daughter Alice's middle name.
  12. Zeppelin
    • Origin:

      German word name from Slavic
    • Meaning:

      "zeppelin; flail"
    • Description:

      In a baby name landscape where word names and names that start with Z are infinitely cool, there are few options for parents who want to combine trends. Zeppelin is one of the best names at the intersection of these two styles, and it's rising alongside the likes of Zen, Zephyr, and Zenith.
  13. Zia
    • Origin:

      Latin; Arabic; Italian
    • Meaning:

      "grain; light, splendor; aunt"
    • Description:

      A short and zippy name that would blend right in with but also stand out among a group of girls named Mia, Gia, Lia and Tia. If you're searching for girl names that work in many cultures, this is an accessible yet distinctive choice. One caveat though: in an Italian-American family it would be strange to have a baby named Aunt.
  14. Zephyrine
    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Zephyr, Greek
    • Meaning:

      "west wind"
    • Description:

      Zephyr may not be a name often heard in the U.S., but its variations are used throughout Europe. Zephyrine, a cousin in sound and feel if not in fact to such lovely names as Severine and Seraphina, has distinctive possibilities.
  15. Zion
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "highest point"
    • Description:

      A Biblical place name that's one of the rising unisex baby names for both girls and boys. It's got an uplifting feel and that zippy Z beginning. Zion is an alternate name for Jerusalem and is used as a nationalistic pro-Israel movement known as Zionism. The name has gained popularity after being used by celebrities including Lauryn Hill and Fantasia Barrino.
  16. Zariyah
    • Origin:

      Arabic, Hebrew, Russian
    • Meaning:

      "scattering wind; God has helped; sunrise, dawn"
    • Description:

      Zariyah has several possible origins: the Arabic Zahrah which means "flower" or Zariya "scattering wind"; the Hebrew name Azariah, meaning "God has helped"; or the Russian word Zaria which means "sunrise, dawn."
  17. Zaria
    • Origin:

      African place-name, variant of Zahra, Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "rose; to shine, to bloom"
    • Description:

      Zaria, the name of the Nigerian capital city, could be another Z name for parents to consider. It currently ranks lower than variations Zariah and Zariyah.
  18. Zira
    • Origin:

      Berber, Tamazight
    • Meaning:

      "moonlight"
    • Description:

      Attractive but uncommon name which has been used as a character name in several movies, including The Lion King II and Planet of the Apes. Ziri and Tiziri are variants.
  19. Zavier
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Xavier
    • Description:

      This phonetic version is occasionally used and removes any confusion about whether the X is fully pronounced or not.
  20. Zuzu
    • Origin:

      Czech diminutive of Susan
    • Meaning:

      "lily"
    • Description:

      This sizzling nickname Zuzu is heard every Christmas as the name of Jimmy Stewart's little girl in "It's a Wonderful Life," but we love it all year round as a lively alternative to double names like Gigi and Bibi.