Zoey
ZOH-ee /ˈzoʊ.i/
Meaning of Zoey
Zoey is the modern English phonetic respelling of Zoe, from the Ancient Greek ζωή (zōē) meaning 'life.' The Greek word was used in the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) to translate the Hebrew word for life, giving the name early Christian resonance. Zoey as a distinct spelling was rare before the 1990s and is now the dominant US form, while Zoe remains standard in Europe.
Current popularity of Zoey
Rankings from the most recent fully-published year in each national registry. Source links at the foot of the page.
| Registry | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| United States (SSA) | 2024 | #42 |
Notable bearers of Zoey
Zoe (early Christian martyr); Zoey Deutch (actor); Zooey Deschanel (actor/musician).
Similar names & variants
Cognates, spelling variants and close relatives. Click any name with an underline to read its own page.
Sibling-name suggestions
Names that pair stylistically with Zoey — useful as middle names or for siblings.
About this entry
Compiled by the Baby Name Finder editorial team following the rules in our Methodology and Editorial guidelines. If you spot an error, please tell us; our corrections policy is at /editorial-guidelines#corrections.
Sources
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31