Zef
Zef is an Albanian masculine given name. It is a short form of the Hebrew name Yossef (יוֹסֵף) and a variant of Joseph. The name Zef may refer to:
Meaning & Origin of Zef
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Zef is an Albanian masculine given name. It is a short form of the Hebrew name Yossef (יוֹסֵף) and a variant of Joseph. The name Zef may refer to:
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Zef
Zef first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1973, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1973, when 6 Zefs were born — ranking #4,505 that year. As of 2026, Zef ranks #12,230 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 44 Zefs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Zef
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Zef Bushati (born 1953), Albanian diplomat
- Zef Eisenberg (1973–2020), British motorcycle racer
- Zef Gashi (born 1938), Montenegrin archbishop
- Zef Jubani (1818–1880), Albanian writer
- Zef Kol Ndoka (1883–1924), Albanian military commander
- Zef Kolombi (1907–1949), Albanian painter
- Zef Mala (1915–1979), Albanian writer
- Zef Mazi (born 1956), Albanian diplomat
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Zef
Phonetically similar names — useful when Zef 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 Zef
What does the name Zef mean?
How popular is Zef in 2026?
When was Zef most popular?
Is Zef a unisex name?
What names go well with Zef?
About the name Zef
Zef is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1973 and has accumulated 44 births in the dataset. Zef's peak popularity came in 1973 when it ranked #4,505. Use the chart and map above to compare Zef's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1973 →
- Names of the 1970s →
- Names starting with "Z" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
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.