Unisex · #1,398 in 2026

Zealand

Zealand is the largest and most populous island in Denmark proper at 7,031 km2. Zealand had a population of 2,319,705 on 1 January 2020, comprising 40% of the country's population.

Current Rank
#1,398
Peak Rank
#1,387 (2026)
Total Babies
1K
5-Yr Trend
+149%
👧 Girl peak #6,703 (90 total)
👦 Boy peak #1,387 (1K total)
👦As Boy Name
2000
First Year
2026
Last Year
2026
Peak Year
#1387
Peak Rank
1K
Total Count
25
Years Active
👧As Girl Name
2010
First Year
2026
Last Year
2022
Peak Year
#6703
Peak Rank
90
Total Count
11
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Zealand

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Zealand is the largest and most populous island in Denmark proper at 7,031 km2. Zealand had a population of 2,319,705 on 1 January 2020, comprising 40% of the country's population.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Etymology
The origin of the Danish name Sjælland is not exactly known. Sjæl in modern Danish means "soul"; a derivation from siô / sæ (meaning "lake" or "sea") has been assumed. However, today a common hypothesis is that the Old Danish form Siâland is based on the word * selha- with the ending * wundia- . The latter means "indicates, resembles". The word * selha- may have two different meanings: "seal" (in modern Danish sæl ) or "deep bay, fjord". Since Roskilde is a major and ancient settlement on Zealand, accessible by sea through the narrow Roskilde Fjord (branched from the Isefjord ), it has been as
Origin & history
The tribal Danes came from Zealand and Scania and spoke an early form of North Germanic . Historians believe that before their arrival, most of Jutland and the nearest islands were settled by tribal Jutes . The Jutes migrated to Great Britain eventually, some as mercenaries of Brythonic King Vortigern , and were granted the south-eastern territories of Kent , the Isle of Wight and other areas, where they settled. They were later absorbed or ethnically cleansed by the invading Angles and Saxons , who formed the Anglo-Saxons . The remaining Jutish population in Jutland assimilated in with the se

The Story of Zealand

As a girl name

Zealand first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 2010, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2022, when 17 Zealands were born — ranking #6,703 that year. As of 2026, Zealand ranks #9,233 for girls with 9 births, with steady use. In total, more than 90 Zealands have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2010s through the 2020s.

As a boy name

Zealand first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 2000, with 9 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 135 Zealands were born — ranking #1,398 that year. As of 2026, Zealand ranks #1,398 for boys with 135 births, rising sharply (+149% over the past five years). In total, more than 1K Zealands have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Girls Boys

Popularity by State

ME
WA
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MI
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VT
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SD
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IL
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OH
PA
NJ
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RI
CA
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WY
NE
MO
KY
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VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
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Top 10
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No data

Names that sound like Zealand

Phonetically similar names — useful when Zealand is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

  • Zeeland
  • Seeland
  • Zealander
  • Sealant
  • Sealand
  • Wieland
  • Soland
  • Zealot
  • Xylan
  • Zahlen
  • Zetland
  • Zeilen

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Zealand

What does the name Zealand mean?
Zealand is the largest and most populous island in Denmark proper at 7,031 km2. Zealand had a population of 2,319,705 on 1 January 2020, comprising 40% of the country's population.
How popular is Zealand in 2026?
In 2026, Zealand ranks #1,398 among boys' names in the U.S., with 135 babies given the name that year.
When was Zealand most popular?
Zealand reached its peak popularity in 2026, ranking #1,387 that year with 135 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Zealand most popular?
Zealand has historically been most popular in Utah, Iowa, Kentucky. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Zealand.
Is Zealand a unisex name?
Yes — Zealand is used for both girls and boys in U.S. records, with about 8% of Zealands assigned female and 92% assigned male historically.
What names go well with Zealand?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Zealand include Bertha, Elson, Morrison. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Zealand

Zealand is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2000 and has accumulated 1K births in the dataset. Zealand's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #1,387. Use the chart and map above to compare Zealand's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.