Boy · #10,774 in 2026

Zealous

The Zealots were members of a Jewish political movement during the Second Temple period who sought to incite the people of Judaea to rebel against the Roman Empire and expel it from the Land of Israel by force of arms, most notably during the First Jewish–Roman War. "Zealotry" was the term used by the Jewish historian Josephus for a "fourth sect" or "fourth Jewish philosophy" during this period.

Current Rank
#10,774
Peak Rank
#10,774 (2017)
Total Babies
6
5-Yr Trend
Stable
2017
First Year
2017
Last Year
2017
Peak Year
#10774
Peak Rank
6
Total Count
1
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Zealous

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

The Zealots were members of a Jewish political movement during the Second Temple period who sought to incite the people of Judaea to rebel against the Roman Empire and expel it from the Land of Israel by force of arms, most notably during the First Jewish–Roman War. "Zealotry" was the term used by the Jewish historian Josephus for a "fourth sect" or "fourth Jewish philosophy" during this period.

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

Etymology
The term zealot , the common translation of the Hebrew kanai ( קנאי ‎ , frequently used in plural form, קנאים ‎ , kana'im ), means one who is zealous on behalf of God. The term derives from Greek ζηλωτής ( zēlōtēs ), "emulator, zealous admirer or follower".
Origin & history
Statue of Simon the Zealot by Hermann Schievelbein at the roof of the Helsinki Cathedral . Flavius Josephus ' Jewish Antiquities states that there were three main Jewish sects at this time, the Pharisees , the Sadducees , and the Essenes . The Zealots were a "fourth sect", founded by Judas of Galilee (also called Judas of Gamala) in 6 CE against the Census of Quirinius , shortly after the Roman Empire declared what had most recently been the tetrarchy of Herod Archelaus to be a Roman province . According to Josephus, they "agree in all other things with the Pharisaic notions; but they have an

The Story of Zealous

Zealous first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 2017, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2017, when 6 Zealouss were born — ranking #10,774 that year. As of 2026, Zealous ranks #10,774 for baby boys with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 6 Zealouss have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2010s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

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Top 10
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No data

Names that sound like Zealous

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

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Zealous

What does the name Zealous mean?
The Zealots were members of a Jewish political movement during the Second Temple period who sought to incite the people of Judaea to rebel against the Roman Empire and expel it from the Land of Israel by force of arms, most notably during the First Jewish–Roman War. "Zealotry" was the term used by the Jewish historian Josephus for a "fourth sect" or "fourth Jewish philosophy" during this period.
How popular is Zealous in 2026?
In 2026, Zealous ranks #10,774 among boys' names in the U.S., with 6 babies given the name that year.
When was Zealous most popular?
Zealous reached its peak popularity in 2017, ranking #10,774 that year with 6 babies given the name.
Is Zealous a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Zealous is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Zealous?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Zealous include Rayo, Elrick, Stamatis. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

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Rayo
Peak #10774
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Elrick
Peak #10774
👦
Stamatis
Peak #10774
👦
Demery
Peak #10774
👦
Shakti
Peak #10774
👦
Aroon
Peak #10774
👦
Dremond
Peak #10774
👦
Yukon
Peak #10774

About the name Zealous

Zealous is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2017 and has accumulated 6 births in the dataset. Zealous's peak popularity came in 2017 when it ranked #10,774. Use the chart and map above to compare Zealous'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.