Zvi
A masculine Hebrew name meaning "deer" or "gazelle".
Name Census estimates that about 623 living Americans carry the first name Zvi. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Zvi today is around 35 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Zvi births was 1977 (16 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Zvi. 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
623
~ 1 in 550,167 Americans
Peak year
1977
16 babies that year
Average age
35
years old
2024 SSA rank
#8,286
Tracked since 1951
Popularity
Zvi: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Zvi from the 1950s through to the 2020s, spanning 8 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 112 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Zvi remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Zvi 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 Zvi during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Zvis live
Origin
Meaning and history of Zvi
The name Zvi is a Hebrew name that originated in ancient times. It is derived from the Hebrew word "tzvi," which means "deer" or "gazelle." The name's origins can be traced back to the biblical era, as it appears in various passages of the Hebrew Bible.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Zvi can be found in the Book of Psalms, where it is mentioned as a descriptor for the grace and beauty of the deer. This association with the deer likely stems from the animal's symbolic significance in ancient Israelite culture, representing swiftness, agility, and grace.
Throughout the centuries, the name Zvi has been borne by various notable figures in Jewish history and literature. One of the earliest known individuals with this name was Zvi Hirsch ben Hayyim, a prominent Rabbi and scholar who lived in the 17th century (1630-1718). He was known for his influential works on Jewish law and ethics.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Zvi Hirsch Kalischer, a 19th-century Rabbi and pioneer of the Zionist movement (1795-1874). He was instrumental in advocating for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in the land of Israel and is considered one of the forerunners of modern Zionism.
In the realm of literature, Zvi Nussbaum (1908-1988) was a renowned Israeli writer and playwright. His works, which often explored themes of identity and the human condition, earned him critical acclaim and numerous literary awards.
The name Zvi has also been carried by notable figures in the world of science and academia. Zvi Ringer (1910-2003) was an Israeli physicist and educator who made significant contributions to the field of solid-state physics. He was also a recipient of the prestigious Israel Prize for his contributions to science and education.
In more recent times, Zvi Griliches (1930-1999) was an influential American economist known for his pioneering work in the field of econometrics and the measurement of productivity. His research on the sources of economic growth and the role of human capital had a profound impact on the field of economics.
These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who have borne the name Zvi, each leaving their mark in various fields and disciplines. The name's enduring legacy reflects its deep roots in ancient Hebrew culture and its symbolic association with grace, beauty, and swiftness.
People
Zvi + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Zvi 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
Zvi: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Zvi?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 623 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Zvi 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 550,167 US residents.
Is Zvi a common name?
We classify Zvi as "Very Rare". It ranks above 86.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 665 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Zvi most popular?
The single biggest year for Zvi was 1977, when 16 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Zvi is about 35 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Zvi a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Zvi 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.