Meaning & Origin
Zoya is a girl's baby name of Russian origin, the Russian form of Zoe, from the Greek zoe meaning "life." It has been one of the most popular names in Russia and Eastern Europe, where it carries both Soviet-era history and timeless vitality.
Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya — the young Soviet partisan who became a celebrated war hero in 1941 — made the name a symbol of courage and sacrifice in Russian culture. In the United States, Zoya has been growing as a distinctive alternative to Zoe, with the Slavic Z-O-Y-A spelling giving it a unique, memorable quality.