Given name
Zipporah
“bird”
Zipporah is used as a given name. One interpretation is “bird.”
Original Hebrewצפרה
Meaning & origin
What it means
One interpretation is “bird.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Hebrew.
The story
In biblical stories, Zipporah is associated with the wife of Moses.
In the Bible
In the Bible, the name Zipporah appears in Exodus 2:21, Exodus 4:24.
- Exodus 2:21
- Exodus 4:24
From biblical name research
Zipporah through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,632
- 0 boys · 2,632 girls
- Most popular year
- 2018
- 86 babies
- 2025
- 83
- #2,238 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −2%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 83 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 2,238 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 1.6% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 86 in 2018. In 2025, Ohio had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (7). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,074 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.
Zipporah’s family of names
In English usage, Zipporah has a later derivative in ZIPKIN. Zipporah has a related form in Zipora. Zipporah has a related form in Ziporah.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Zipporah has relatives in 3 languages. Lines run from its Hebrew roots to each of them.
3 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 8
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 8
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 3
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
Similar names
If you love Zipporah, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Kezia
“of the spice tree”
>99% girls
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Adalia
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Tzziporah
“a beauty; little bird”
—
Cypora
“a beauty; little bird”
—
Tsippora
“a beauty; little bird”
>99% girls