How to say it
ZO · ey
/ˈzoʊ.i/
Feminine
Zoey
Life
What it means
Spelling variant of Zoe, from Greek zōē ('life'). Same root, just the American Y-ending spelling popular since the 2000s.
Zoey is a spelling variant of Zoe, both from the Greek zōē ('life'). The original Greek Zoe was a 3rd-century Christian martyr; the name carries the New Testament resonance of life (zōē aiōnios, 'eternal life'). The Zoey spelling is American and 21st-century, parents reaching for a clearer phonetic Y ending. Zoey 101 (Nickelodeon, 2005-2008) and Zoey Deutch helped cement the spelling. Both Zoe and Zoey have been in the US top 100 for the past decade; Zoey has overtaken the original spelling in some years.
Popularity over time
peaked at #20 in 2012, currently #69 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
Zoe and Zoey are the same name with two spellings, pronounced identically. Zoey is the American 21st-century preference; Zoe is the original Greek spelling.
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.
- Zoey Deutch American actress, Set It Up and The Politician
- Zoey 101 Nickelodeon series 2005-2008 starring Jamie Lynn Spears
Spelling variants
- Zoe
- Zoey
- Zoie
Names with the same feeling
See Zoey from another angle
By meaning
By style