Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1979

Zebulon

Meaning A male given name from Hebrew Gender Boy Rank 2025 #5,042 Trend ↓ Falling 12%

A male given name from Hebrew.

Rank 2025
#5,042
among boys · ↓612 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
20
named Zebulon · -17% vs 2024
How common
1 in 85,404
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1979
125 babies
All-time total
2,149
#3,153 all-time among boys
First recorded
1891
in Social Security records

Zebulon popularity over time

2,149 babies have been named Zebulon since 1891, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.030.050.080.118801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1979Boys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Boys Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – –
1890s 6 1 – #961
1900s – – – –
1910s 19 2 – #2,913
1920s 19 2 0% #3,868
1930s 9 1 -53% #2,863
1940s 18 2 +100% #2,938
1950s 5 1 -72% #4,571
1960s 16 2 +220% #3,042
1970s 341 34 +2031% #776
1980s 610 61 +79% #937
1990s 416 42 -32% #1,779
2000s 281 28 -32% #2,047
2010s 272 27 -3% #3,227
2020s (to 2025) 137 23 -16% #3,813

Where Zebulon is heading

A five-year projection from the recent trend in births per 1,000 boys (damped so it flattens over time), converted to babies at today's birth totals. The implied rank places that projection in the 2025 field. A projection, not a promise: real trends bend.

Year Projected babies Per 1,000 boys Implied rank
2026 20 0.01 outside top 500
2027 19 0.01 outside top 500
2028 19 0.01 outside top 500
2029 19 0.01 outside top 500
2030 19 0.01 outside top 500

The story of Zebulon

Zebulon is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #5,042 in 2025 with 20 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1891, 2,149 American babies have been named Zebulon. Its peak came in 1979, when 125 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1970s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Zebulon stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Zebulon?

The median living Zebulon is about 33 years old; half are between 20 and 44. An estimated 2,000 people named Zebulon are alive in the United States today.

median 33 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Zebulon year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 20 #5,042
2024 24 #4,430
2023 19 #5,251
2022 19 #5,212
2021 29 #3,813
2020 26 #4,019
2019 27 #4,001
2018 22 #4,607
2017 29 #3,779
2016 24 #4,325
2015 36 #3,227
2014 28 #3,786
2013 30 #3,581
2012 19 #5,034
2011 25 #4,107
2010 32 #3,451
2009 24 #4,277
2008 23 #4,393
2007 19 #4,993
2006 28 #3,685
2005 22 #4,195
2004 19 #4,601
2003 29 #3,279
2002 29 #3,187
2001 38 #2,560
2000 50 #2,047
1995 45 #1,913
1990 45 #1,779
1985 53 #1,332
1980 92 #937
1975 25 #1,947
1970 5 #5,432
1965 – –
1960 – –
1955 – –
1950 – –
1945 – –
1940 – –
1935 – –
1930 – –
1925 – –
1920 6 #4,282
1915 – –
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Zebulon

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Zebulon Pike Zebulon Pike American general and explorer (1779–1813) 18th century

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Zebulon, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Zebulon?

The median living Zebulon is about 33 years old. Half of all living Zebulons are between 20 and 44 years old.

How many people named Zebulon are alive today?

An estimated 2,000 people named Zebulon are alive in the United States, based on 2,149 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Zebulon mean?

A male given name from Hebrew.

How popular is the name Zebulon in 2025?

Zebulon ranked #5,042 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 20 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Zebulon?

2,149 babies have been named Zebulon in the United States since 1891, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Zebulon most popular?

Zebulon peaked in 1979, when 125 newborns received the name.

Is Zebulon a boy or girl name?

Zebulon is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Zebulon rising or falling?

Zebulon is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Will Zebulon become more popular?

Zebulon is trending downward. If the recent trend holds, we project roughly 19 boys named Zebulon in 2030, which would rank outside the top 500. Forecasts assume the current trend continues and become less certain further out.

Who are famous people named Zebulon?

Well-known people named Zebulon include Zebulon Pike (military personnel).

Names like Zebulon

Names that sound and feel close to Zebulon: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Zebulon with similar names → More names starting with Z →