Given name
Zebulun
“one who has been exalted”
Zebulun is a variant of Zebulon. One Hebrew interpretation is “one who has been exalted.”
Original Hebrewזבלון
Meaning & origin
What it means
Zebulun is a variant of Zebulon. One Hebrew interpretation is “one who has been exalted.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Zebulun is a variant of Zebulon. An origin associated with Zebulon is Hebrew.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
From the Hebrew verb zabal (זבל), “to exalt or honor.”
From biblical name research
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1973. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
In the Bible
In the Bible, the name Zebulun appears in Numbers 26:27, Judges 12:11, Genesis 30:20 and 4 other passages.
- Numbers 26:27
- Judges 12:11
- Genesis 30:20
- Joshua 19:10-16
- Matthew 4:13
- Matthew 4:15
- Revelation 7:8
From biblical name research
Zebulun through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 894
- 894 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 1979
- 30 babies
- 2025
- 23
- #4,537 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +56%
- Rising fast
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 23 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 4,537 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 56.3% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 631 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Zebulun’s family of names
In English usage, Zebulun has a diminutive in Zeb. Zebulun has a related form in Zebulon. In English usage, Zebulun has a conventional equivalent in the Dutch form Zebulon.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Zebulun has relatives in 3 languages.
3 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 2
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
Similar names
If you love Zebulun, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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