Zero
A boy's name of Arabic origin with 27 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Zero reads as a modern invention — a name that emerged in the 2010s and was likely coined by parents looking for something fresh rather than inherited.
The open, approachable quality of its ending — ending on a vowel softens the overall impression — keeps the name compact and easy to pair with longer middle names or surnames.
In the most recent SSA release, Zero ranks #10875 among U.S. boy names — distinctive enough to stand out.
Zero is a boy's baby name of Arabic and Italian origin, from the Arabic ṣifr ('empty') via the Italian zefiro. Zero represents the concept of nothingness from which all numbers emerge — in mathematics, a revolutionary discovery that made modern civilization possible. It gained cultural resonance through the Holes novel and film character Zero.
Zero is a name of mathematical philosophy — the number that makes all other numbers possible, the beginning of infinity, the empty circle that contains everything. A name of unexpected depth.
EtymologyShow more
Zero appeared in SSA records in 2017, placing it in the modern era of American naming — a period when parents increasingly draw from global cultures, invent new names, and blend sounds to create something entirely original. Its Arabic roots may have been the starting point, adapted or respelled to fit contemporary American tastes.
With only 27 recorded births, Zero has not been widely studied in naming literature — its story belongs primarily to the families who chose it.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Zero has 4+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 2017.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 20 | #11586 | ▲ |
| 2010s | 7 | #10762 | — |
The Story of Zero
A Gen Alpha name
Peaking in 2022, Zero is a fresh, modern favorite. Boys named Zero are most likely born between 2017 and 2024.
How rare is Zero?
Only about 1 in every 514,286 babies born in 2024 was named Zero — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 2017, peaked in the 2020s with 20 births that decade.
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(4 years, 2017–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 | #10875 |
| 2022 | 8 | #9810 |
| 2021 | 5 | #14073 |
| 2017 | 7 | #10762 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zero a boy's or girl's name?
When was Zero most popular?
How popular is the name Zero?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 2017–2024