Zoei
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "life".
Name Census estimates that about 963 living Americans carry the first name Zoei. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Zoei today is around 14 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Zoei births was 2014 (61 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Zoei. 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
963
~ 1 in 355,924 Americans
Peak year
2014
61 babies that year
Average age
14
years old
2024 SSA rank
#5,418
Tracked since 1996
Popularity
Zoei: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Zoei from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 499 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Zoei remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Zoei 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 Zoei during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Zoeis live
The SSA's state-level files cover 7 states and territories. Texas, Florida, Georgia recorded the most babies named Zoei, while Maryland, Michigan, California recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 19 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Zoei
The name Zoei is believed to have originated from the Greek language, with its roots tracing back to ancient times. It is thought to be a variant or diminutive form of the name Zoe, which means "life" in Greek. This name was popular in ancient Greece and was often associated with the goddess Aphrodite, who represented love, beauty, and fertility.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Zoei can be found in the works of ancient Greek writers and philosophers. In Plato's dialogue "Cratylus," the name Zoe is discussed as a representation of the concept of life and the soul. This philosophical connection to life and vitality may have contributed to the name's enduring popularity throughout Greek history.
During the Byzantine era, which lasted from the 4th to the 15th century, the name Zoei gained prominence within the Eastern Orthodox Christian tradition. It was often used as a name for female saints and martyrs, reflecting the name's association with life and spirituality.
In the 9th century, there was a notable figure named Zoei Karbonopsina, who was a Byzantine empress and the wife of Leo VI the Wise. Her influence and prominence during this period likely contributed to the name's continued use and recognition.
Moving forward in history, the name Zoei has also been recorded in various literary works and historical accounts. One notable example is Zoei Porphyrogenita, a Byzantine princess and writer who lived in the 11th century and authored several notable works on theology and philosophy.
In more recent times, the name Zoei has been carried by several accomplished individuals. Zoei Lamma was a Greek actress and singer who gained popularity in the 20th century, born in 1923 and passing away in 2005. Another notable figure was Zoei Kasdagli, a Greek poet and writer who was born in 1936 and made significant contributions to modern Greek literature.
While the name Zoei has its roots in ancient Greek culture, it has transcended time and geographic boundaries, gaining popularity in various parts of the world. Throughout its rich history, the name has been associated with concepts of life, vitality, and spiritual enlightenment, making it a timeless and meaningful choice for many parents.
People
Zoei + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Zoei 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
Zoei: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Zoei?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 963 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Zoei 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 355,924 US residents.
Is Zoei a common name?
We classify Zoei as "Very Rare". It ranks above 89.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 973 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Zoei most popular?
The single biggest year for Zoei was 2014, when 61 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Zoei is about 14 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Zoei a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Zoei 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.