Zissy
A feminine diminutive of Zoe, meaning life in Greek.
Name Census estimates that about 941 living Americans carry the first name Zissy. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Zissy today is around 15 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Zissy births was 2024 (68 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Zissy. 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
941
~ 1 in 364,245 Americans
Peak year
2024
68 babies that year
Average age
15
years old
2024 SSA rank
#2,593
Tracked since 1972
Popularity
Zissy: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Zissy from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 347 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Zissy remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Zissy 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 Zissy during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Zissys live
Origin
Meaning and history of Zissy
The name Zissy has its roots in ancient Greek culture, originating from the word "zizanion," meaning a type of weed or tare. This term was often used metaphorically to refer to something undesirable or troublesome. The name Zissy likely emerged as a diminutive or nickname derived from this word, potentially used to describe a mischievous or problematic child.
Early references to the name Zissy can be found in various Greek texts and historical records dating back to the 5th century BCE. One notable mention is in Aristotle's work "On the Soul," where he discusses the concept of zizanion in relation to human nature and virtues. However, it is unclear if the name itself was in use during this time or if it emerged later.
The first known individual to bear the name Zissy was a Greek merchant and explorer named Zissy of Miletus, who lived in the 3rd century BCE. He is mentioned in records as having led a trading expedition to the Black Sea region, although details of his life and achievements are scarce.
Another notable figure with the name Zissy was a Byzantine monk and theologian named Zissy of Constantinople, who lived in the 9th century CE. He was known for his contributions to the study of Eastern Orthodox theology and his writings on the nature of the Trinity.
In the 13th century, there was a Greek noblewoman named Zissy Palaiologina, who was a member of the influential Palaiologos dynasty that ruled the Byzantine Empire. She is recorded as having been involved in various political intrigues and power struggles during her lifetime.
During the Renaissance period, a Italian artist named Zissy Veneziano, born in 1485, gained recognition for his works in fresco painting and his contributions to the development of the Venetian school of art.
Finally, in the 19th century, a Greek poet and philosopher named Zissy Solomos, born in 1798, became renowned for his lyrical works that celebrated Greek culture and identity. He is considered one of the most influential figures in modern Greek literature and is often referred to as the national poet of Greece.
People
Zissy + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Zissy 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
Zissy: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Zissy?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 941 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Zissy 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 364,245 US residents.
Is Zissy a common name?
We classify Zissy as "Very Rare". It ranks above 89.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 954 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Zissy most popular?
The single biggest year for Zissy was 2024, when 68 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Zissy is about 15 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Zissy a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Zissy 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.
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.