Unisex · #4,846 in 2026

Zenith

The zenith is the imaginary point on the celestial sphere directly "above" a particular location. "Above" means in the vertical direction opposite to the gravity direction at that location (nadir). The zenith is the "highest" point on the celestial sphere. The direction opposite of the zenith is the nadir.

Current Rank
#4,846
Peak Rank
#1,385 (2026)
Total Babies
490
5-Yr Trend
+127%
👧 Girl peak #1,385 (490 total)
👦 Boy peak #2,379 (483 total)
👧As Girl Name
1897
First Year
2026
Last Year
2026
Peak Year
#1385
Peak Rank
490
Total Count
51
Years Active
👦As Boy Name
1914
First Year
2026
Last Year
2022
Peak Year
#2379
Peak Rank
483
Total Count
23
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Zenith

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

The zenith is the imaginary point on the celestial sphere directly "above" a particular location. "Above" means in the vertical direction opposite to the gravity direction at that location (nadir). The zenith is the "highest" point on the celestial sphere. The direction opposite of the zenith is the nadir.

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

Origin & history
The word zenith derives from an inaccurate reading of the Arabic expression سمت الرأس ( samt al-raʾs ), meaning "direction of the head" or "path above the head", by Medieval Latin scribes in the Middle Ages (during the 14th century), possibly through Old Spanish . It was reduced to samt ("direction") and miswritten as senit / cenit , the m being misread as ni . Through the Old French cenith , zenith first appeared in the 17th century.

The Story of Zenith

As a girl name

Zenith first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1897, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 28 Zeniths were born — ranking #4,846 that year. As of 2026, Zenith ranks #4,846 for girls with 28 births, rising sharply (+127% over the past five years). In total, more than 490 Zeniths have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1890s through the 2020s.

As a boy name

Zenith first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1914, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2022, when 59 Zeniths were born — ranking #2,379 that year. As of 2026, Zenith ranks #2,688 for boys with 49 births, rising sharply (+54% over the past five years). In total, more than 483 Zeniths have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Girls Boys

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Zenith

Phonetically similar names — useful when Zenith 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 Zenith

What does the name Zenith mean?
The zenith is the imaginary point on the celestial sphere directly "above" a particular location. "Above" means in the vertical direction opposite to the gravity direction at that location (nadir). The zenith is the "highest" point on the celestial sphere. The direction opposite of the zenith is the nadir.
How popular is Zenith in 2026?
In 2026, Zenith ranks #4,846 among girls' names in the U.S., with 28 babies given the name that year.
When was Zenith most popular?
Zenith reached its peak popularity in 2026, ranking #1,385 that year with 28 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Zenith most popular?
Zenith has historically been most popular in California. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Zenith.
Is Zenith a unisex name?
Yes — Zenith is used for both girls and boys in U.S. records, with about 50% of Zeniths assigned female and 50% assigned male historically.
What names go well with Zenith?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Zenith include Sister, Gracy, Lepha. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Zenith

Zenith is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1897 and has accumulated 490 births in the dataset. Zenith's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #1,385. Use the chart and map above to compare Zenith'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.