Zed: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

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	10	1	–	#1,067
1890s	12	1	+20%	#953
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	25	3	–	#3,513
1920s	24	2	-4%	#3,707
1930s	19	2	-21%	#3,174
1940s	16	2	-16%	#3,688
1950s	6	1	-62%	#3,943
1960s	–	–	–	–
1970s	23	2	–	#4,932
1980s	62	6	+170%	#3,881
1990s	40	4	-35%	#5,940
2000s	52	5	+30%	#5,912
2010s	100	10	+92%	#5,317
2020s (to 2025)	65	11	+8%	#5,560

Decade

Boys

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

#1,067

1890s

+20%

#953

1900s

–

1910s

–

#3,513

1920s

-4%

#3,707

1930s

-21%

#3,174

1940s

-16%

#3,688

1950s

-62%

#3,943

1960s

–

1970s

–

#4,932

1980s

+170%

#3,881

1990s

-35%

#5,940

2000s

+30%

#5,912

2010s

100

+92%

#5,317

2020s (to 2025)

+8%

#5,560

The story of Zed

Zed is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #9,700 in 2025 with 8 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1882, 454 American babies have been named Zed. Its peak came in 2018, when 18 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2010s.

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 Zed stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Zed?

The median living Zed is about 19 years old; half are between 7 and 37. An estimated 400 people named Zed are alive in the United States today.

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

Zed year by year

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

Year	Boys	Boys rank
2025	8	#9,700
2024	15	#6,195
2023	11	#7,731
2022	7	#10,843
2021	17	#5,560
2020	7	#10,593
2019	8	#9,740
2018	18	#5,317
2017	15	#6,055
2016	14	#6,346
2015	8	#9,558
2014	6	#12,093
2013	9	#8,772
2012	9	#8,856
2011	6	#12,271
2010	7	#10,755
2009	7	#10,973
2008	–	–
2007	5	#14,376
2006	8	#9,581
2005	6	#11,459
2004	7	#9,937
2003	–	–
2002	7	#9,383
2001	–	–
2000	12	#5,912
1995	–	–
1990	7	#7,175
1985	9	#4,694
1980	–	–
1975	–	–
1970	–	–
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	7	#3,251
1930	–	–
1925	5	#4,860
1920	6	#4,283
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Zed?

The median living Zed is about 19 years old. Half of all living Zeds are between 7 and 37 years old.

How many people named Zed are alive today?

An estimated 400 people named Zed are alive in the United States, based on 454 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Zed mean?

A diminutive of the male given name Zedekiah.

How popular is the name Zed in 2025?

Zed ranked #9,700 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 8 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Zed?

454 babies have been named Zed in the United States since 1882, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Zed most popular?

Zed peaked in 2018, when 18 newborns received the name.

Is Zed a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Zed rising or falling?

Zed is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Zed

Zed popularity over time

The story of Zed

How old are people named Zed?

Zed year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Zed