Holding steady, #10,917 for girls today.
Popularity of Zani since 2004
Babies named Zani per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2008, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Zani's real moment was 2018.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 31 | 7 |
| 2010s | 82 | 53 |
| 2020s | 48 | 41 |
Meaning & origin
Zani entered U.S. birth records in 2004, a clear signal of its modern, invented character. The name saw its highest usage in 2018, though it remains exceptionally rare: in a recent year (2025) it ranked 10,917, meaning only about 1 in 200,908 babies were named Zani. Its trajectory over the past decade has been stable, neither surging nor declining significantly. No single U.S. state recorded enough Zanis to appear among the top states for the name, underscoring its spread across the country as a niche choice. Without a long history or ties to a specific culture, Zani appeals to parents seeking a fresh, open-sounding name that can suit any child.
Zani first appeared in U.S. records in 2004, suggesting a recent coinage. It may be a creative respelling of Zany (meaning amusingly unconventional) or a diminutive of longer names such as Zaniah (possibly derived from Hebrew Zaniah meaning 'God is gracious') or Suzanna (from Hebrew Shoshannah meaning 'lily'). Given its sudden emergence, a modern invented origin is most plausible.
Sibling names for Zani
Names that share Zani's style, for a brother or sister.
