unisex name · in the US
Zephaniah
zef-uh-NY-uh (English)
- Gender Unisex (US)
- Syllables 4
- Letters 9
- Popularity Uncommon
- Births on record 4,516
Zephaniah is a unisex name in the United States, with 4 syllables. It is given to both girls and boys — about 11% of recorded births with this name are girls. In 2025 it was given to 143 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
- Peaked in 2019, when 194 babies were given the name.
- It has been rising over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 23,185 babies in the United States is given this name.
- First appears in US birth records in 1972.
- 4 syllables, with the stress on syllable 3.
Zephaniah Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1970s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 37 |
| 1980s | 109 |
| 1990s | 331 |
| 2000s | 975 |
| 2010s | 1,532 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 873 |
How Popular Is Zephaniah?
In 2025, Zephaniah was given to 143 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Where Zephaniah Is Used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Zephaniah
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Zephaniah Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Zephaniah over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
Boys' or Girls' Name?
Zephaniah is used differently depending on where you are. Each figure is the share of babies given the name who were girls, over the last ten years of that country's records.
- United States Both 13% girls · 1,575 babies
- England & Wales Boys' 2% girls · 320 babies
- Canada Boys' 0% girls · 89 babies
How to Say Zephaniah
- English zef-uh-NY-uh
Sibling Names for Zephaniah
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Zephaniah — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Zephaniah
How popular is the name Zephaniah?
In 2025, Zephaniah was given to 143 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Is Zephaniah a girl's or a boy's name?
Zephaniah is used for both girls and boys. About 11% of recorded births with this name are girls.
How many syllables are in Zephaniah?
Zephaniah has 4 syllables.
When was Zephaniah most popular?
Zephaniah peaked in 2019, when 194 babies were given the name. It has been rising over the past decade.
Is Zephaniah a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Zephaniah currently ranks #1,203 in the United States. It has been rising over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.