Zebulan

Meaning & origin

The name Zebulan, a variant of the biblical Zebulon, has been in extremely rare use in the United States since its first recorded appearance in 1978. Its peak usage came in 1979, the year after its debut, though even then it did not achieve widespread popularity. Since the 1980s, its usage has been sporadic, with fewer than five births per year in most decades. The U.S. Social Security data shows no recorded births in many recent years, and no top states have emerged for this name. For parents seeking a distinctive biblical name with the approachable nickname Zeb, Zebulan offers a rare and traditional option.

Zebulan is a variant spelling of Zebulon, deriving from the Hebrew name Zevulun (זְבוּלֻן). In the Old Testament, Zebulon was the tenth son of Jacob and the founder of the tribe of Zebulon. The exact meaning is debated; it may derive from the Hebrew root 'zaval', meaning 'to exalt' or 'to honor', or from 'zevul', meaning 'dwelling' or 'habitation'. The spelling Zebulan, with an 'a', is a less common Anglicized form that emerged in English-speaking countries, particularly in the 19th and 20th centuries.