Rising since 1989, #1,196 for boys today.
Popularity of Zephyr since 1905
Babies named Zephyr per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 10 | 0 |
| 1910s | 60 | 0 |
| 1920s | 54 | 0 |
| 1930s | 11 | 0 |
| 1940s | 0 | 0 |
| 1950s | 0 | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 | 6 |
| 1980s | 21 | 10 |
| 1990s | 7 | 46 |
| 2000s | 60 | 317 |
| 2010s | 249 | 1,070 |
| 2020s | 223 | 1,079 |
Meaning & origin
Zephyr is a name drawn from Greek mythology, where Zephyros was the god of the west wind, often associated with spring and gentle breezes. The name has been used in English poetry since the Renaissance but only began appearing on U.S. birth certificates in 1975, with a rank of 1196 in 2025. Its popularity has been rising since 1989, reaching its peak year in 2022. About 1 in 10,107 babies were named Zephyr in 2025. The name is most common in Oregon, Washington, and Louisiana, reflecting a modern preference for nature-inspired and mythological names.
Zephyr derives from the Greek Zephyros, the god of the west wind in Greek mythology. The name entered English usage as a poetic term for a gentle breeze, and its use as a given name in the United States began in the late 20th century.
Where Zephyr is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Zephyr” around the world
Where Zephyr lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
70
babies in 2024
New Zealand
11
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Zep, Zeph
Variants: Zepher, Zephyros
Sibling names for Zephyr
Names that share Zephyr's style, for a brother or sister.
