Fun Facts About the Name Tzipporah
- 400 babies named Tzipporah: U.S. records list 400 babies given the name Tzipporah from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Tzipporah Mean?
Tzipporah is a Hebrew feminine name meaning "bird." It comes from the Hebrew noun tsippor (צִפּוֹר), a general word for a bird, with the feminine ending -ah added. The Hebrew word is used in the Bible for birds in general rather than for one particular species, so English renderings such as "sparrow" or "little bird" are traditional interpretations rather than the literal sense of the word.
The name is written in several ways in English, including Zipporah, Tzipora, and Tsipporah. These spellings reflect different systems for transliterating the Hebrew letters, especially the letter tsadi, which can appear as z or tz.
Tzipporah Name History & Origins
Tzipporah is the name of Moses' wife in the Book of Exodus. She is the daughter of Jethro (also called Reuel), a priest of Midian, and she becomes Moses' wife after he flees Egypt (Exodus 2:16 - 22). The narrative names her two sons, Gershom and Eliezer, and in one scene (Exodus 4:24 - 26) she circumcises her son and touches his feet with the foreskin, calling Moses a "bridegroom of blood." This biblical appearance is the earliest documented use of the name.
The English spelling Zipporah, common in Bible translations, renders the Hebrew with a single z. The spelling Tzipporah reflects the Hebrew letter tsadi more directly by using tz, a convention also used in transliterations influenced by Yiddish and by modern Israeli Hebrew. In Israel the name is used in the form Tzipora, often shortened to the nickname Tzipi, as in the politician Tzipi Livni.
How Popular is the Name Tzipporah?
Tzipporah has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2025. Its best rank was #5,897 in 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #5,897 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 2024 | #6,352 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 2023 | #11,089 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 2022 | #9,019 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2021 | #6,150 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 2020 | #7,932 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 2019 | #9,686 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 2018 | #13,696 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2017 | #9,304 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2016 | #9,385 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2015 | #6,959 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2014 | #10,899 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2013 | #13,070 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2012 | #13,385 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2011 | #9,111 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2010 | #7,862 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2009 | #9,942 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2008 | #10,048 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2007 | #7,712 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2006 | #10,567 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2005 | #9,419 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2004 | #14,095 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2003 | #9,644 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2002 | #10,202 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2001 | #7,701 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2000 | #8,009 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1999 | #11,344 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1998 | #11,092 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1997 | #16,047 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1994 | #11,732 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1991 | #11,460 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1990 | #15,159 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1989 | #12,302 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1987 | #7,331 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1985 | #12,423 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1984 | #12,109 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1982 | #12,249 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore More Lists with Name Tzipporah
Most Popular Girl Names That Start with T
How the Name Tzipporah Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You like to control everyone within your influence, to shape things to your own liking. If positive, you develop high spirituality, as you have a God's protection. You are sensitive, affectionate, imaginative and cooperative, spiritually aware and prone to self-sacrifice. You can keep secrets and are a good diplomat. You may have healing and psychic powers. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
Creative and outgoing, you are always looking for an opportunity to show your abilities, especially before audience. You are very flexible and like to feel appreciated. You are looking for chances to mix with others socially and to communicate your ideas. You like to talk and can easily relate to different cultures and concepts. The biggest challenge for you is uncertainty. Easily getting bored, you can move from one job to another, switch projects and lovers. The high creative force can lead you either to happiness or unhappiness. If you understand your goals, if you can make major decisions in life and follow it directly and straight up without worry and uncertainty, you are able to achieve great heights.
✦ Tzipporah's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Tzipporah's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.