Given name & surname · also Scandinavian
Zane
“one who is bold”
Zane is used as a given name and a surname. One Scandinavian interpretation is “one who is bold.” Its derivation is not certain.
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Scandinavian interpretation is “one who is bold.” Its derivation is not certain.
Where it comes from
This spelling has been associated with Scandinavian and English naming traditions. The precise derivation is uncertain.
How it developed
Zane is used as a form of John.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1914. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Zane through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 57,228
- 56,664 boys · 564 girls
- Most popular year
- 2018
- 2,041 babies
- 2025
- 1,051
- #324 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −30%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 1,051 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 324 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 29.6% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 2,033 in 2018. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (121). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 44,095 as a first name in 2020; 2,524 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Zane’s family of names
In Latvian usage, Zane has a diminutive in SANITA. Zane is a form of John. Zane has a related form in Zain.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 8
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Zane
- Zane HoltzCanadian actorborn 1987
- Zane MaloneyBarbadian racing driverborn 2003
- Zane WeirItalian athleteborn 1995
- Zane PhillipsAmerican actorborn 1993
- Zane LoweNew Zealand DJ (born 1973)
- Zane TamaneLatvian basketball player (born 1983)
- Zane HuettAmerican actorborn 1997
- Zane RobertsonNew Zealand long-distance runnerborn 1989
- Zane GreenNamibian cricketerborn 1996
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Zane, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Lane
“one who takes the narrow path”
93% boys · 7% girls
Ace
“one who excels; number one; the best”
99% boys · 1% girls
King
“the royal ruler”
>99% boys
Finn
“white, fair” · “one who is cool”
99% boys · 1% girls
Holden
“one who is willing and eager” · “from the hollow in the valley”
99% boys · 1% girls
Tate
Tate is used as a given name and a surname. One English interpretation is “a cheerful man; one who brings happiness to others.” Its derivation is not certain.
95% boys · 5% girls
Nash
“from the cliffs”
99% boys · 1% girls
Colt
“a young horse; from the coal town”
>99% boys