Zephyr Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Zephyr has its origin in Greek, meaning 'gentle breeze'. It evolved from the Ancient Greek 'zephyros' to Modern English. The name is associated with calmness and has no biblical relevance. It gained popularity during the Renaissance due to interest in classical mythology.
The name Zephyr is most popular in California, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Zephyr has been stalled for male in MidWest, too falling for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Zephyr' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 10102nd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 9103rd out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2968th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1291st out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 3458th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 7783rd out of 9204 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 18891st out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 12433rd out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 4304th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Zephyr' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Zephyr"
Pronunciation
/ˈzɛfər/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
The name Zephyr comes from the Greek word 'zephyros', which means 'the west wind'. In Greek mythology, Zephyr was the god of the west wind, known for being the gentlest of the winds.
Meaning
gentle breeze
Language Evolution
Zephyros (Ancient Greek), Zephyr (Latin), Zephyr (Old French), Zephyr (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name Zephyr gained popularity during the Renaissance when there was a renewed interest in classical mythology and names.
Variants & Derivatives
Zephyra, Zephyrus
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Zephyr is often associated with calmness and tranquility, evoking images of gentle breezes and nature. It is considered a poetic and somewhat whimsical name.
Famous People
Zephyr Teachout, an American attorney and political activist, Zephyr Williams, a notable figure in environmental advocacy
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Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Zephyr"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Zephyr"
"Zephyr" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 10102nd of 10718 | 6 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 9103rd of 16616 | 42 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 2968th of 24088 | 557 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 1291st of 23106 | 1,750 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 3458th of 9107 | 124 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 7783rd of 9204 | 11 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 18891st of 27321 | 21 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 12433rd of 35406 | 111 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 4304th of 30306 | 399 |
Regional Popularity of "Zephyr" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
71.85% 3292nd/4582 |
66.98% 3459th/5164 |
39.59% 2895th/7313 |
25.79% 1925th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
44.50% 1773rd/3984 |
37.13% 1666th/4487 |
25.02% 1707th/6822 |
12.70% 797th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Zephyr" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- |
94.54% 4242nd/4487 |
- |
43.21% 2712th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Zephyr"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Zephyr" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.