Given name & surname

Zeb

“exaltation”

Zeb is used as a given name and a surname. One Hebrew interpretation is “exaltation.”

Meaning & origin

What it means

One Hebrew interpretation is “exaltation.”

Where it comes from

A possible origin is Hebrew, although the derivation remains uncertain.

How it developed

In English usage, Zeb is a diminutive of Zebulon. In English usage, Zeb is a diminutive of Zebadiah.

The story

Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.

From dated birth records

Zeb through the years

Babies since 1880
2,750
2,750 boys · 0 girls
Most popular year
1979
65 babies
2025
12
#7,189 for boys
2021–25 vs 2016–20
−15%
Easing
05010015018801900192019401960198020002025Highest share 18887.0
Zeb in U.S. Social Security birth records, 1880–2025, per million boys born. Years with fewer than five births for a sex are not published and appear as zero. Use the arrow keys to step through years.

By the numbers

In 2025, this name appeared in 12 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 7,189 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 14.9% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 65 in 1979. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,065 as a first name in 2020; 356 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.

Zeb’s family of names

In English usage, Zeb is a diminutive of Zebulon. Zeb has a related form in Zebadiah. In English usage, Zeb is a diminutive of Zebadiah.

Walk Zeb’s family in the name graph

ZebZebadiahZebulunZebulonZebedee

The ring: nicknames and forms.

Hover or tab through the constellation to see how each name is related. Bigger dots are names more people in the U.S. share.

Nicknames & forms 4

Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.

People named Zeb

Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.

Similar names

If you love Zeb, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.

Hebrew

Jamin

“the right hand of favor”

28RareSteady

>99% boys

Hebrew · Biblical

Rosh

“head” · “chief”

0Not recently recorded

>99% boys

Hebrew

Shaun

“God is gracious”

37RareCooling

98% boys · 2% girls

Hebrew · Biblical

Dedan

“leading gently”

0Not recently recorded

>99% boys

Hebrew · Biblical

Zeeb

“wolf”

No U.S. birth series

>99% boys

Ancient Greek

Zachery

“The Lord remembers”

30RareEasing

>99% boys

Spanish

Vidal

“life” · “a giver of life”

29RareSteady

>99% boys

Hebrew · Biblical

Jeconiah

“Yah establishes” · “the Lord will establish”

0Not recently recorded

>99% boys

Sibling ideas

Names that share Zeb’s feel without repeating its first letter or rhyming with it.

A brother for Zeb

A sister for Zeb