Zooey: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#13,199

among girls · ↑2,085 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Zooey

How common

1 in 229,610

girls born in 2025

Peak year

2012

194 babies

All-time total

1,106

#7,001 all-time among girls

First recorded

2003

in Social Security records

Zooey popularity over time

1,106 babies have been named Zooey since 2003, 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

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	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–
1950s	–	–	–	–
1960s	–	–	–	–
1970s	–	–	–	–
1980s	–	–	–	–
1990s	–	–	–	–
2000s	100	10	–	#3,160
2010s	907	91	+807%	#1,250
2020s (to 2025)	99	17	-82%	#4,961

The story of Zooey

Zooey is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #13,199 in 2025 with 7 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 2003, 1,106 American babies have been named Zooey. Its peak came in 2012, when 194 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 Zooey stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Zooey?

The median living Zooey is about 12 years old; half are between 9 and 14. An estimated 1,100 people named Zooey 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.

Zooey year by year

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

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	7	#13,199
2024	6	#15,284
2023	13	#8,485
2022	24	#5,461
2021	27	#4,961
2020	22	#5,665
2019	32	#4,436
2018	35	#4,142
2017	52	#3,144
2016	59	#2,901
2015	79	#2,350
2014	109	#1,867
2013	138	#1,569
2012	194	#1,250
2011	108	#1,873
2010	101	#1,991
2009	54	#3,160
2008	16	#8,106
2007	10	#11,624
2006	8	#13,596
2005	–	–
2004	6	#16,093
2003	6	#15,774
2002	–	–
2001	–	–
2000	–	–
1995	–	–
1990	–	–
1985	–	–
1980	–	–
1975	–	–
1970	–	–
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Famous people named Zooey

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

1 Zooey Deschanel American actress and singer (born 1980) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Zooey?

The median living Zooey is about 12 years old. Half of all living Zooeys are between 9 and 14 years old.

How many people named Zooey are alive today?

An estimated 1,100 people named Zooey are alive in the United States, based on 1,106 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Zooey mean?

A female given name from Ancient Greek, variant of Zoë.

How popular is the name Zooey in 2025?

Zooey ranked #13,199 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 7 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Zooey?

1,106 babies have been named Zooey in the United States since 2003, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Zooey most popular?

Zooey peaked in 2012, when 194 newborns received the name.

Is Zooey a boy or girl name?

Zooey is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Zooey rising or falling?

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

Who are famous people named Zooey?

Well-known people named Zooey include Zooey Deschanel (actor).

Names like Zooey

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

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