How to say it
ZOH · ee
ˈzoʊ.i
Feminine
Zoe
Life
What it means
From the Greek zōē (ζωή), meaning life. Greek-speaking Jews used it to translate the Hebrew Chavah (Eve, life), then it became a Christian-era name in its own right.
Saint Zoe was a 2nd-century Roman martyr. The name stayed primarily within Greek and Russian Orthodox traditions for nearly two millennia before crossing into broader European use in the 19th century. American adoption surged in the 1990s and 2000s. The Sesame Street character Zoe (introduced 1993) and various pop-culture Zoes have kept it visible. Currently US top hundred for girls. The trema spelling Zoë is sometimes used to mark the two-syllable pronunciation; the spelling Zoey has its own popularity track.
How to spell Zoe
The standard spelling is Zoe. Common variants include Zoë, Zoey, Zooey, Zoya, but Zoe is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #29 in 2024, currently #31 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pronunciation
ZOH-ee, two syllables. The E is pronounced. Sometimes written with a diaeresis (Zoë) to make the second syllable explicit.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Zoë Kazan Actress and screenwriter, Ruby Sparks
- Zoë Kravitz Actress, Big Little Lies and The Batman
Spelling variants
- Zoë
- Zoey
- Zooey
- Zoya
Names with the same feeling
See Zoe from another angle
By meaning
Common questions
- What does the name Zoe mean?
- From the Greek zōē (ζωή), meaning life. Greek-speaking Jews used it to translate the Hebrew Chavah (Eve, life), then it became a Christian-era name in its own right.
- What does Zoe mean in Greek?
- In Greek, Zoe means "Life." Saint Zoe was a 2nd-century Roman martyr. The name stayed primarily within Greek and Russian Orthodox traditions for nearly two millennia before crossing into broader European use in the 19th century. American adoption surged in the 1990s and 2000s. The Sesame Street character Zoe (introduced 1993) and various pop-culture Zoes have kept it visible. Currently US top hundred for girls. The trema spelling Zoë is sometimes used to mark the two-syllable pronunciation; the spelling Zoey has its own popularity track.
- How do you pronounce Zoe?
- Zoe is pronounced ˈzoʊ.i. Say it as ZOH-ee, with the stress on the "zoh" syllable.
- How do you spell Zoe?
- The standard spelling is Zoe. Common spelling variants include Zoë, Zoey, Zooey, Zoya.
- Is Zoe a boy or girl name?
- Zoe is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Zoe?
- Zoe ranked #31 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.