"life, living"
Origin: Greek
Language: Greek
Zoey
Pronunciation: [ z-OH-ee ]
Does Zoey flow with your last name?
Life itself—in two bright, joyful syllables
Greek
English
American
Modern
Playful
Bright
Gentle
Whimsical
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
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Meaning & Origin
"eternal life, divine vitality"
Origin: Greek Christian
Language: English
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The Story of Zoey
Zoey is a variant spelling of Zoe, from the Greek zoe meaning life. Zoe was used in the early Christian church as a Greek translation of the biblical name Eve, which also means life—making it one of the oldest meaningful names in the Western tradition. The Gospel of John uses zoe specifically to mean eternal or divine life rather than mere biological existence. The spelling Zoey became popular in America as a more phonetically explicit variant ensuring the long e ending is unmistakable.
Zoey has been in the US top 50 since the 2000s and consistently ranks in the top 30. Both Zoey and Zoe are popular simultaneously. The name's simple, vibrant meaning and bright sound make it enduringly appealing, and it has appeared on popular TV characters across multiple shows.
In John's Gospel, zoe (eternal life) is distinguished from bios (biological life)—making this name carry deep theological meaning for Christian families. Saint Zoe of Rome was an early Christian martyr. In ancient Greek thought, zoe was the most fundamental concept—bare life itself as the foundation of all experience.
Historical Record
Zoey first appeared in US Social Security records in 1967.
Over 111,856 babies have been named Zoey in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Zoey is past its peak , currently ranked #59 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Zoe means life in Greek and was used by early Christians as a translation of Eve—giving it one of the oldest pedigrees of any name in the Western world
- The Gospel of John uses zoe 36 times to mean eternal or divine life, making it one of the most theologically loaded words in the New Testament
- Zoe Washburne from the TV series Firefly became one of the most iconic strong female characters in science fiction television
Zoey in Other Languages
Greek
Ζωή
French
Zoe
German
Zoe
Hebrew
זואי
Italian
Zoe
Spanish
Zoe
Popularity Over Time
#59
Current Rank
Stable
Trend
Peaked 2012
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Zoey
Z
Zoey Deutch
Actor
1994
American actress known for Set It Up and Buffaloed
Z
Zoe Kravitz
Actor
1988
American actress known for Big Little Lies, The Batman, and High Fidelity
Z
Zooey Deschanel
Actor
1980
American actress and singer-songwriter known for New Girl, 500 Days of Summer, and her band She and Him
Z
Zoe Saldana
Actor
1978
American actress known for Avatar, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Avengers: Infinity War
Z
Zoe Washburne Fictional
Military
Second-in-command aboard the Serenity in Joss Whedon's Firefly, played by Gina Torres—one of TV's great female character...
Second-in-command aboard the Serenity in Joss Whedon's Firefly, played by Gina Torres—one of TV's great female characters
Z
Zoey Brooks Fictional
Other
Protagonist of Nickelodeon's Zoey 101, played by Jamie Lynn Spears—one of the first major female leads in a kids' teen d...
Protagonist of Nickelodeon's Zoey 101, played by Jamie Lynn Spears—one of the first major female leads in a kids' teen drama
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Compare Zoey with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #59
- Total SSA Count
- 3,600
- Cultural Origins
- Greek English American
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Casual
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Popular in These States
Top states by rank · 2024
Common Nicknames
Zo
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
Middle Names
Middle Names for Zoey
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Also a Boy Name
Zoey is also used as a boy name, ranked #35330.
View Zoey as a boy name →Similar Names
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Compare Zoey with...
Same Origin Names (Greek)
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Frequently Asked Questions About Zoey
What does the name Zoey mean?
"life, living" (from Greek). "eternal life, divine vitality" (from Greek Christian). Zoey is a variant spelling of Zoe, from the Greek zoe meaning life. Zoe was used in the early Christian church as a Greek translation of the biblical name Eve, which also means life—making it one of the oldest meaningful names in the Western tradition. The Gospel of John uses zoe specifically to mean eternal or divine life rather than mere biological existence. The spelling Zoey became popular in America as a more phonetically explicit variant ensuring the long e ending is unmistakable.
What is the origin of the name Zoey?
Zoey has Greek, Greek Christian, English, and American origins. In Greek, it means "life, living". In Greek Christian, it means "eternal life, divine vitality".
Is Zoey a boy or girl name?
Zoey is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #59. As a boy name, it is ranked #35330. Zoey is more commonly used as a girl name.
How do you pronounce Zoey?
Zoey is pronounced z-OH-ee.
How popular is the name Zoey?
Zoey is currently ranked #59 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are good middle names for Zoey?
Popular middle name pairings include Zoey Grace, Zoey Marie, Zoey Rose, Zoey Anne, Zoey Elizabeth, Zoey Belle, and Zoey Renee.
What are good sibling names for Zoey?
Names that pair well with Zoey as siblings include Chloe, Lily, Ella, Ethan, Liam, Noah, and Penelope.
How many syllables does Zoey have?
Zoey has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Zoey a common or rare name?
Zoey is a very popular name, ranked #59 among girl names in the United States.
What girl names are similar to Zoey?
About the Name Zoey
Zoey is a girl name with Greek, English, and American origins . The name means "life, living" in Greek .
Is Zoey a boy or girl name? Zoey is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #59 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #35,330. Zoey is more commonly used as a girl name.
Zoey is currently ranked #59 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Zoey has 2 syllables and is pronounced z-OH-ee, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Zoey include Zo. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Zoey include Zoe, Zoelle . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
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Recommended for Parents
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Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis