Zeven
A Dutch name derived from the word meaning "seven".
Name Census estimates that about 157 living Americans carry the first name Zeven. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Zeven today is around 13 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Zeven births was 2008 (13 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Zeven. 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.
People living today
157
~ 1 in 2,183,149 Americans
Peak year
2008
13 babies that year
Average age
13
years old
2024 SSA rank
#9,850
Tracked since 2000
Popularity
Zeven: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Zeven from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 75 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Zeven remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Zeven 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 Zeven during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Zeven
The given name Zeven is a Dutch name with its roots traced back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated from the Dutch word "zeven," which means "seven" in English. The name's origins are closely tied to the numerical significance of the number seven in various cultures and belief systems.
In ancient times, the number seven held a special symbolism across different civilizations. It was often associated with concepts like completeness, perfection, and divinity. The name Zeven may have been bestowed upon individuals as a way to imbue them with these symbolic meanings or to honor the numerical significance.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Zeven can be found in Dutch historical records dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries. During this period, the name was primarily used in the Low Countries, which encompassed parts of modern-day Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name Zeven was Zeven van Amstel, a Dutch nobleman who lived in the late 13th century. He played a significant role in the expansion and development of the city of Amsterdam, which was then a small fishing village.
Another notable figure named Zeven was Zeven van Haarlem, a Dutch painter and stained-glass artist who lived during the late 15th and early 16th centuries. His works adorned several churches and cathedrals in the Netherlands, showcasing his exceptional talent and craftsmanship.
In the realm of literature, the name Zeven gained prominence through the character of Zeven the Wanderer, a central figure in the epic Dutch poem "De Reis van Zeven de Zwerver" (The Journey of Zeven the Wanderer), written in the 17th century by the poet Joost van den Vondel.
During the Dutch Golden Age, a prominent politician and statesman named Zeven van Oldenbarnevelt played a crucial role in the Dutch struggle for independence from Spanish rule. He served as the Land's Advocate of Holland and West Friesland and was a key figure in the establishment of the Dutch Republic.
In more recent times, Zeven Veth, a Dutch painter and illustrator born in 1864, gained recognition for his vibrant and expressive artworks, particularly his portrayal of rural Dutch life and landscapes.
While the name Zeven has maintained a presence throughout Dutch history, it has also transcended cultural boundaries and gained recognition in other parts of the world, albeit to a lesser extent. The name's unique numerical connotation and association with the concept of completeness have contributed to its enduring appeal across generations.
People
Zeven + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Zeven 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
Zeven: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Zeven?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 157 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Zeven 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 2,183,149 US residents.
Is Zeven a common name?
We classify Zeven as "Very Rare". It ranks above 70.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 158 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Zeven most popular?
The single biggest year for Zeven was 2008, when 13 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Zeven is about 13 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Zeven a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Zeven in the SSA data are male. 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.
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.