Zoe
Say it: ZOH-ee/ˈzəʊ.i/
GirlMeans life3 letters2 syllables
#46
in Ireland (2025)
#40 with spellings combined
111
babies in 2025
#26
best rank (2016)
5,135
babies since 1968
Down 10
10-year rank change
Zoe through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 111 | #40 |
| 2024 | 100 | #54 |
| 2023 | 130 | #35 |
| 2022 | 139 | #41 |
| 2021 | 145 | #40 |
| 2020 | 140 | #37 |
| 2019 | 147 | #39 |
| 2018 | 185 | #29 |
| 2017 | 189 | #31 |
| 2016 | 219 | #26 |
| 2015 | 204 | #30 |
| 2014 | 173 | #32 |
| 2013 | 211 | #30 |
| 2012 | 196 | #34 |
| 2011 | 204 | #37 |
| 2010 | 170 | #46 |
| 2009 | 188 | #42 |
| 2008 | 162 | #47 |
| 2007 | 135 | #54 |
| 2006 | 141 | #47 |
| 2005 | 150 | #43 |
| 2004 | 132 | #45 |
| 2003 | 136 | #41 |
| 2002 | 133 | #43 |
| 2001 | 129 | #42 |
| 2000 | 115 | #42 |
| 1999 | 69 | #66 |
| 1998 | 65 | #60 |
| 1997 | 132 | #47 |
| 1996 | 94 | #59 |
| 1995 | 88 | #61 |
| 1994 | 60 | #96 |
| 1993 | 62 | #93 |
| 1992 | 58 | #101 |
| 1991 | 59 | #106 |
| 1990 | 34 | #148 |
| 1989 | 30 | #162 |
| 1988 | 33 | #153 |
| 1987 | 27 | #181 |
| 1986 | 27 | #183 |
| 1985 | 25 | #197 |
| 1984 | 19 | #223 |
| 1983 | 25 | #199 |
| 1982 | 16 | #265 |
| 1981 | 14 | #272 |
| 1980 | 11 | #311 |
| 1979 | 15 | #273 |
| 1978 | 16 | #253 |
| 1977 | 13 | #269 |
| 1976 | 11 | #284 |
| 1975 | 10 | #297 |
| 1974 | 8 | #324 |
| 1973 | 11 | #292 |
| 1972 | 3 | #471 |
| 1971 | 6 | #349 |
| 1970 | 7 | #307 |
| 1968 | 3 | #401 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0. Spellings with and without fadas are combined; the CSO only recorded fadas from 2018.
★ What does Zoe mean?
Life
Greek, from zoe (life).
Say it right
ZOHee
The story of Zoe
Zoe comes from the Greek word zoe, meaning life. It is sometimes written Zoë, with two dots over the “e” to show that the “o” and “e” are said separately, as two syllables.
In Ireland Zoe was first recorded in 1968. It grew through the 1980s and 1990s and reached number 26 in 2016 with 219 babies. The CSO counts Zoë separately from Zoe, so the ranks differ: in 2025 the spelling Zoe alone was number 46, while all spellings together would place it 40th.
In Northern Ireland its best position was 32nd, in 2002.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Zoe (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Zoe (name)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby Names in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Zoe | 102 | 5,043 |
| Zoë | 9 | 83 |
| Zoé | under 3 | 9 |
In Northern Ireland
#132 in 2025 with 15 babies. Best rank #32 (2002); 1,344 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.