UK name, mostly boys
Zephaniah
A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has treasured".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Zephaniah is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Zephaniah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #981, with 31 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 40 births.
This profile covers 478 England and Wales registrations across 25 recorded years from 2000 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 78% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 475 living people in the UK are called Zephaniah. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Zephaniah ranked #981 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 31 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2023, when 40 boys were registered as Zephaniah.
- • About 475 living people in the UK are estimated to have Zephaniah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 98.0% of Zephaniah registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#981
2024
Births in 2024
31
Latest year
Peak year
2023
40 births
Estimated living
475
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Zephaniah
In England and Wales birth records, Zephaniah has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 98.0% of registrations are for boys and 2.0% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Zephaniah registered for boys
- Ranked #981 in 2024
- 31 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2023 (40 births)
Zephaniah registered for girls
- Ranked #4,709 in 2023
- 4 girls registered in 2023
- Peak: 2023 (4 births)
Meaning
What does Zephaniah mean?
The name Zephaniah has its origins in ancient Hebrew, derived from the elements "tsaphan" meaning "to hide" or "to treasure", and "Yah" which is a shortened form of the Hebrew name for God. It roughly translates to "hidden by the Lord" or "treasured by God". The name dates back to the 7th century BCE, originating in the ancient Kingdom of Judah.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Zephaniah comes from the Book of Zephaniah in the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Old Testament. Zephaniah was a prophet who lived in Jerusalem during the reign of King Josiah and delivered prophecies about the coming Day of the Lord. His book is a collection of his teachings, warnings, and apocalyptic visions.
The name Zephaniah has been used throughout history by various individuals, including Zephaniah, son of Maaseiah, mentioned in the Book of Jeremiah as one of the officials who read the scroll containing Jeremiah's prophecies. Another notable bearer of the name was Zephaniah, a leader of the Korahites who returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile, as recorded in the Book of Nehemiah.
One of the earliest known individuals named Zephaniah was a 9th century BCE prince and son of King Cush of Ethiopia, mentioned in the Book of Jeremiah. In the 16th century, Zephaniah Crespin was a Protestant reformer and martyr who was burned at the stake in France for his religious beliefs. Zephaniah Swift was an American lawyer, author, and legislator in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, known for his legal writings and work in codifying Connecticut's laws.
In the 19th century, Zephaniah Turner was an English cricketer who played for Hampshire and became a renowned coach and umpire. Zephaniah Kingsley was an influential plantation owner, businessman, and writer in Florida during the early 19th century, known for his advocacy of gradual emancipation and his relationships with women of African descent.
While the name Zephaniah has biblical and ancient roots, it has been used across various cultures and religions over time, reflecting its enduring appeal and timeless quality.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Zephaniah over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Zephaniah in England and Wales, from 2000 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Zephaniah, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 31 births in 2024, compared with 40 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Zephaniah by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Zephaniah was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #908 | 169 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1192 | 234 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2167 | 75 | 10 |
Notable bearers
Famous people named Zephaniah
-
Zephaniah Thomas
association football player
British footballer (born 1989)
1989-
-
Zephaniah Williams
coal miner
Welsh political activist
1795-1874
-
Zephaniah Kingsley
slave trader; slave driver; politician
plantation owner, slave trader, merchant
1765-1843
Related
Names similar to Zephaniah
- Zachary 29,362
- Zak 9,988
- Zain 7,620
- Zac 7,272
- Zack 7,101
- Zakariya 5,447
- Zach 4,754
- Zayn 4,326
- Zachariah 3,234
- Zion 3,141
- Zane 2,818
- Zayd 2,609
FAQ
Zephaniah: questions and answers
How popular is the name Zephaniah in the UK right now?
In 2024, Zephaniah was ranked #981 for boys in England and Wales, with 31 births registered.
When was Zephaniah most popular?
The peak year on record was 2023, with 40 babies registered as Zephaniah in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Zephaniah?
A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has treasured".
How many people are called Zephaniah in the UK?
A total of 478 babies have been registered as Zephaniah across the 25 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.