Zephaniah
Boy name · #1456 in 2025 · Uniqueness 68/100
In 2025, 123 baby boys were named Zephaniah, placing it at #1456 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1406, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 14,634 boys born in 2025 was named Zephaniah.
Babies named Zephaniah per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 53-year story
Zephaniah first appears in the Social Security records in 1972, when 7 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2019, when 171 boys were named Zephaniah — good for #1136 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Zephaniah against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Zephaniah in class?
Zephaniah scores 68 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Zephaniah will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Zephaniah is most common
Geography matters for names, and Zephaniah is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Zephaniahs were CA (15), TX (9), FL (6), CO (5), MI (5). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Zephaniah
Statistically, parents drawn to Zephaniah tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Zechariah, Micaiah, Jessiah, Obadiah, and Jeriah.
ZechariahMicaiahJessiahObadiahJeriahJahsiahJedidiahZakariah
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Zephaniah | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 123 | #1451 |
| 2024 | 144 | #1332 |
| 2023 | 125 | #1449 |
| 2022 | 119 | #1516 |
| 2021 | 132 | #1383 |
| 2020 | 125 | #1390 |
| 2019 | 171 | #1136 |
| 2018 | 152 | #1224 |
| 2017 | 138 | #1306 |
| 2016 | 144 | #1266 |
| 2015 | 122 | #1406 |
| 2014 | 123 | #1385 |
| 2013 | 129 | #1326 |
| 2012 | 117 | #1419 |
| 2011 | 117 | #1411 |
| 2010 | 108 | #1503 |
| 2009 | 109 | #1518 |
| 2008 | 121 | #1399 |
| 2007 | 109 | #1464 |
| 2006 | 91 | #1596 |
| 2005 | 85 | #1603 |
| 2004 | 75 | #1701 |
| 2003 | 63 | #1870 |
| 2002 | 66 | #1744 |
| 2001 | 59 | #1871 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Zephaniah a popular boy name?
Zephaniah ranked #1456 among boys in 2025 with 123 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1406.
When was the name Zephaniah most popular?
Zephaniah peaked in 2019, when 171 American boys received the name (ranked #1136 that year). Since 2019 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Zephaniah?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 14,634 newborn American boys was named Zephaniah. It scores 68/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.