The first name Zane
A boy’s name.
Pronounced /zeɪn/ 1 syllable Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
* The usage seems to date from the American writer Zane Grey (1875-1939), born Pearl Zane Gray. It was the surname of his mother's family, of unknown meaning. * Sometimes explained as a form of John because of the resemblance to Shane, or because Italian surnames such as Zanelli and Zanetto derive from the equivalent name Giovanni. * In some cases, a respelling of Zayn, which is of Arabic origin.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 118 boys were named Zane, making it the 357th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2011, with 208 births (#233).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Zane with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Zane at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 1,051 boys born in the United States were named Zane, the 324th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2018, when 2,033 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Famous people named Zane
7 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Zane GreyAmerican novelist (1872–1939)
- Zane HoltzCanadian actor, born 1987
- Zane MaloneyBarbadian racing driver, born 2003
- Zane PhillipsAmerican actor, born 1993
- Zane HuettAmerican actor, born 1997
- Levi MillerAustralian actor and model, born 2002
- SemataryAmerican rapper (born 2000)
Questions
- What does the name Zane mean?
- * The usage seems to date from the American writer Zane Grey (1875-1939), born Pearl Zane Gray. It was the surname of his mother's family, of unknown meaning. * Sometimes explained as a form of John because of the resemblance to Shane, or because Italian surnames such as…
- How popular is the name Zane?
- In 2025, 118 boys born in England and Wales were named Zane, ranking 357th. Its peak was 2011, with 208 births.
- Is Zane a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 99% of the 57,228 US babies named Zane since 1880 were boys.
- When was Zane most popular?
- 2018 in the United States, when 2,033 babies were named Zane, its highest rank at 199th.
- How do you pronounce Zane?
- Zane is /zeɪn/, one syllable.
- Is Zane also a surname?
- Yes. Zane is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.