boy's name
Zeus
ZOOS (English)
- Origin Greek
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 1
- Letters 4
- Popularity Uncommon
- Births on record 2,941
Zeus is a boy's name from Greek mythology, the king of the gods and ruler of the sky on Mount Olympus. It descends from an ancient Indo-European word meaning "sky" or "to shine," the same source as Latin Jupiter, and it's used as a bold mythological name.
- Zeus is a name of Greek origin.
- Peaked in 2024, when 205 babies were given the name.
- It has been rising over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 23,682 babies in the United States is given this name.
- First appears in US birth records in 1973.
- 1 syllable, with the stress on syllable 1.
Zeus 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 | 17 |
| 1980s | 43 |
| 1990s | 102 |
| 2000s | 363 |
| 2010s | 1,127 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 1,044 |
What Zeus Means
Zeus means sky or bright heaven. It's one of the oldest divine names known, and it connects a sky god with the idea of daylight and supreme power.
Where Zeus Comes From
Greek Zeus goes back to a reconstructed Indo-European word, dyeus, meaning the bright sky and also a god. The same root gave Latin Iupiter, from a phrase for sky father, and Sanskrit Dyaus. It also lies behind Latin deus and English divine, and Tuesday comes from it through the Germanic god Tiw. Greeks worshipped Zeus as lord of thunder, justice and hospitality, with a great temple at Olympia, the site of the original Games. Homer's Iliad depicts him presiding over gods and men. Use as a first name in the United States is modern, part of the recent taste for strong mythological names such as Apollo and Atlas.
Zeus in Use
For many years Zeus would have seemed too grand for a baby, but American parents now choose it with humor and confidence. The name fits with Ares, Apollo and Thor in the same style.
How Popular Is Zeus?
In 2025, Zeus was given to 140 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Where Zeus 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 Zeus
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Zeus Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Zeus over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Zeus
- English ZOOS
Sibling Names for Zeus
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Zeus — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Zeus
What does the name Zeus mean?
Sky or bright heaven, from an ancient Indo-European root.
Is Zeus a real name?
Yes. It's used for boys, mainly in the United States.
Is Zeus the same as Jupiter?
They come from the same root word, and Romans identified the two gods.
How popular is the name Zeus?
In 2025, Zeus was given to 140 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Is Zeus a girl's or a boy's name?
Zeus is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Zeus?
Zeus has 1 syllable.
When was Zeus most popular?
Zeus peaked in 2024, when 205 babies were given the name. It has been rising over the past decade.
Is Zeus a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Zeus currently ranks #1,349 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.