Holding steady, #6,325 for girls today.
Popularity of Zoa since 1880
Babies named Zoa per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2023, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Zoa's real moment was 1884.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 87 |
| 1890s | 61 |
| 1900s | 17 |
| 1910s | 92 |
| 1920s | 56 |
| 1930s | 21 |
| 1940s | 21 |
| 1950s | 15 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 5 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 35 |
| 2010s | 97 |
| 2020s | 109 |
Meaning & origin
Zoa is a rare and unusual name that has been in use since at least 1880, the earliest year the Social Security Administration recorded data. It reached its peak popularity in 1884, though even then it was not common. As of 2025, the name ranks 6,325th, given to approximately 1 in 89,293 girls. Its trajectory has been stable, neither rising nor falling dramatically in recent decades. The name likely originates as a variant of Zoe, the Greek word for 'life', and has never been tied strongly to any particular state or region in the US.
Zoa is likely a variant or short form of Zoe, which comes from the Greek word 'zoe' meaning 'life'. Zoe was a popular name among early Christians, symbolizing eternal life, and was the name of several early saints. Zoa emerged as a distinct name in the late 19th century, possibly as a diminutive or respelling.
“Zoa” around the world
Where Zoa lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
20
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Zoa
Names that share Zoa's style, for a brother or sister.
