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The short answer
Zoey is a feminine name that Behind the Name lists as a variant of Zoe, which means "life" in Greek and was historically adopted by Hellenized Jews as a translation of Eve. It was borne by early Christian saints and an 11th-century Byzantine empress. It is pronounced ZOH-ee. In the United States it ranked #69 for girls in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name lists Zoey simply as "variant of Zoe". Zoe's own cached entry gives the meaning as "life" in Greek, notes it "was adopted by Hellenized Jews as a translation of Eve", and records early Christian saints and an 11th-century Byzantine empress among its historical bearers. Zoey and its variant spellings have only been common in English since the 19th century, per the Zoe entry.
Editorial confidence: established
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Ancient Greek | ζωή (zoe) | life |
Popularity
Zoey ranked #69 for girls in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data. The root spelling Zoe was more popular still, ranking #31 for girls in the same year, per Behind the Name's cached data.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #69 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: None documented.
Variants: Zoe, Zoie, Zoë, Zowie
Related names: Zoe
What the name feels like
Zoey is a bright, breezy two-syllable name that softens the classical Greek Zoe into a distinctly modern American spelling, common since the late 20th century.
Style tags: modern spelling, Greek origin, two syllables
Editorial interpretation: This style read is editorial judgment, not linguistic fact.
If you like this name
Names with a similar bright, modern-spelling feel or classical root to Zoey.
Similar by sound
Similar by style
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Zoey mean?
Zoey means "life". Behind the Name lists it as a variant of Zoe, the Greek word for "life".
Is Zoey the same name as Zoe?
Yes. Behind the Name lists Zoey as a variant spelling of Zoe, alongside other forms such as Zoie, Zoë and Zowie.
Is Zoey a popular name?
Yes. Zoey ranked #69 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Zoey — supports variant relationship, pronunciation.
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Zoe — supports etymology, history.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
