Chloe
Greek
“young green shoot”
Mostly girls · Greek
“life”
Say it ZO-eePronunciation may vary by region.
A little maybe, saved for later.
The story behind the name
Zoe comes from the Greek word for life. Its short spelling includes two spoken syllables: the final E is pronounced, rather than silent. That detail is useful when comparing it with other three-letter names.
Zoey is an alternative spelling that makes the ending more explicit to English readers. Both offer the same lively sound, so the choice often comes down to spelling preference rather than a different meaning.
A little perspective
Recorded US births over time
| Year | Category | US rank | Births |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 6,802 | 13 |
| 2025 | Girls | 31 | 5,646 |
| 2024 | Boys | 4,320 | 25 |
| 2024 | Girls | 29 | 5,733 |
| 2023 | Boys | 7,287 | 12 |
| 2023 | Girls | 36 | 5,190 |
| 2022 | Boys | 4,569 | 23 |
| 2022 | Girls | 38 | 5,022 |
| 2021 | Boys | 4,934 | 20 |
| 2021 | Girls | 42 | 4,739 |
| 2020 | Boys | 5,697 | 16 |
| 2020 | Girls | 40 | 4,799 |
| 2019 | Boys | 6,771 | 13 |
| 2019 | Girls | 38 | 5,071 |
| 2018 | Boys | 6,342 | 14 |
| 2018 | Girls | 40 | 5,124 |
| 2017 | Boys | 7,543 | 11 |
| 2017 | Girls | 41 | 5,173 |
| 2016 | Boys | 6,051 | 15 |
| 2016 | Girls | 35 | 5,764 |
| 2015 | Boys | 5,744 | 16 |
| 2015 | Girls | 33 | 6,051 |
| 2014 | Boys | 4,701 | 21 |
| 2014 | Girls | 32 | 5,884 |
Rankings are calculated separately for boys and girls. Records below the publication threshold may be missing; gaps are not zero births.
No nicknames are listed yet. The name can stand beautifully on its own.
Keep the possibilities coming
More names with a similar feeling or shared roots.
Greek
“young green shoot”
English, diminutive of Eleanor and Ellen
“Depends on the longer name; often a short form of Eleanor, Ellen…”
Hebrew
“grace”
Variation of Leila, Arabic
“night”
Hebrew
“Traditionally weary; derivation uncertain”
English from Latin
“lily; pledged to God”