Zebra
Native African ungulate characterized by distinctive black or brown stripes.
Name Census estimates that about 4 living Americans carry the first name Zebra. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Zebra today is around 63 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Zebra births was 1957 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Zebra. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Zebra. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
4
~ 1 in 85,688,585 Americans
Peak year
1957
5 babies that year
Average age
63
years old
1957 SSA rank
#7,010
Tracked since 1957
Popularity
Zebra: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Zebra by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Zebra during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0 | 5 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Zebra
The given name Zebra is a relatively modern invention, having no historical or cultural roots. It is derived from the word "zebra," which refers to the distinctive black and white striped equine species native to parts of Africa. The name likely emerged in the late 20th century as a fanciful choice, perhaps inspired by the unique appearance of the zebra animal.
There are no known ancient texts, religious scriptures, or historical records that mention the name Zebra as a personal name. Its usage as a first name is a recent phenomenon, likely stemming from a desire for unique and unconventional names.
Given its novelty, there are no famous historical figures who bore the name Zebra. However, in recent years, a handful of individuals have been given this name, although they have not achieved widespread recognition.
One notable bearer of the name Zebra is Zebra Jonez, an American rapper and songwriter born in the late 1980s. Jonez has released several albums and has collaborated with various artists in the hip-hop and R&B genres.
Another individual named Zebra is Zebra Rego, a Brazilian model and social media influencer born in the 1990s. She has gained a significant following on platforms like Instagram, where she shares her fashion and lifestyle content.
In 2020, a baby girl named Zebra was born in the United States, garnering media attention due to the unique nature of her name.
Zebra is also the name of a character in the animated series "Steven Universe," which debuted in 2013. The character, a member of the Crystal Gems, has a distinctive striped appearance reminiscent of the animal.
While the name Zebra is undoubtedly unconventional, it reflects a trend toward more creative and nature-inspired names in recent decades. Despite its lack of historical significance, it has gained some popularity as a unique and attention-grabbing choice for parents seeking to stand out.
People
Zebra + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Zebra as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with Z
Other first names starting with Z with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Zebra: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Zebra?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 4 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Zebra going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 85,688,585 US residents.
Is Zebra a common name?
We classify Zebra as "Very Rare". It ranks above 6.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Zebra most popular?
The single biggest year for Zebra was 1957, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Zebra is about 63 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Zebra in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Zebra a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Zebra in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Zebra still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Zebra in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Zebra can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are called Zebra?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.