Boy · #6,275 in 2026

Zed

Name: Popularity of the name Zed in U.S. births, 1880–2026
Creator: U.S. Social Security Administration
License: https://www.ssa.gov/foia/
Keywords: Zed, baby name, popularity, U.S., SSA, rankings

Current Rank

#6,275

Peak Rank

#857 (2018)

Total Babies

474

5-Yr Trend

-6%

1882

First Year

2026

Last Year

2018

Peak Year

#857

Peak Rank

474

Total Count

Years Active

The Story of Zed

Zed first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1882, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2018, when 18 Zeds were born — ranking #5,104 that year. As of 2026, Zed ranks #6,275 for baby boys with 14 births, gradually falling (-6%). In total, more than 474 Zeds have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

Top 10

11-50

51-100

101-500

500+

No data

Names that sound like Zed

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

Zade
Zad
Zid
Xid
Zud
Zoid
Zaid
Zod
Zet
Zayde
Zoide
Xad

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Zed

What does the name Zed mean?

Zed is a boy's name that has been used in U.S. records since 1882. Behind the Name doesn't list a specific etymology, but the name has remained in use across multiple decades.

How popular is Zed in 2026?

In 2026, Zed ranks #6,275 among boys' names in the U.S., with 14 babies given the name that year.

When was Zed most popular?

Zed reached its peak popularity in 2018, ranking #857 that year with 18 babies given the name.

In which U.S. states is Zed most popular?

Zed has historically been most popular in California. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Zed.

Is Zed a unisex name?

In U.S. Social Security records, Zed is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.

What names go well with Zed?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Zed include Jethro, Alston, Griffith. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Zed

Zed is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1882 and has accumulated 474 births in the dataset. Zed's peak popularity came in 2018 when it ranked #857. Use the chart and map above to compare Zed'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.