Declining since 2002, #6,803 for boys today.
Popularity of Zeb since 1880
Babies named Zeb per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1979, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Zeb's real moment was 1888.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 99 |
| 1890s | 74 |
| 1900s | 81 |
| 1910s | 228 |
| 1920s | 327 |
| 1930s | 195 |
| 1940s | 152 |
| 1950s | 138 |
| 1960s | 96 |
| 1970s | 241 |
| 1980s | 259 |
| 1990s | 239 |
| 2000s | 305 |
| 2010s | 228 |
| 2020s | 88 |
Meaning & origin
Zeb is a concise, biblical nickname that has functioned as an independent given name for centuries. First recorded in official U.S. data in 1880, it reached its peak rank of 872 in 1888, reflecting a time when short, rugged names were widely favored. Since 2002, its usage has been steadily declining, and in 2025 it ranked 6803 with only 1 in 142,340 boys receiving the name. The lack of top states suggests broad but sparse distribution. Its consistent but low-level use over more than a century speaks to its enduring appeal as a straightforward, traditional choice. While never extremely common, Zeb's historical and biblical roots give it a solid place among classic short-form names like Zeke and Jed.
Zeb is an English short form of the biblical names Zebadiah (meaning 'gift of Yahweh') or Zebulon (possibly 'exalted' or 'dwelling'). It has been used as an independent given name since the 18th century, particularly in the United States and the United Kingdom, often with a rustic or Biblical resonance.
Sibling names for Zeb
Names that share Zeb's style, for a brother or sister.
