Zoe Name Meaning, Origin and Pronunciation
Zoe is a Greek-origin girl’s name meaning “life,” taken directly from the Ancient Greek word zoe.
| Meaning | life |
| Origin | Greek |
| Pronunciation | ZOH-ee |
| Gender | Girl |
| Related forms | Zoey, Zoie (common respellings) |
Origin and history
Zoe comes directly from the Ancient Greek word zoe, meaning life, one of several distinct words in Greek that cover concepts English collapses into a single term. Early Christian Greek speakers sometimes used Zoe as a translation-equivalent name for Eve, whose Hebrew name is also commonly read as meaning life, which helped the name spread through Christian naming traditions across several languages.
Is Zoe a boy or girl name?
Zoe is used almost exclusively as a girl’s name.
Names similar to Zoe
- Zoey and Zoie (common modern respellings, pronounced the same way)
- Eve (a separate Hebrew name sharing the same “life” meaning, historically treated as a translation-equivalent to Zoe in Greek-speaking Christian communities)
Frequently asked questions
Is Zoe related to Eve?
Not etymologically, they come from separate languages, Greek and Hebrew, but they share the same meaning, life, which led early Greek-speaking Christians to use Zoe as an equivalent name for Eve.
Why are there so many spellings of Zoe?
As the name spread in English-speaking countries, phonetic respellings like Zoey and Zoie became common, all representing the same pronunciation as the original Greek form.
Related reading
Parent hub: name meanings.