Fun Facts About the Name Zeke
- More than 8 thousand babies named Zeke: U.S. records list 8,366 babies given the name Zeke from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Zeke Mean?
Zeke is an English short form of Ezekiel, a name that comes from Hebrew. The Hebrew name is יְחֶזְקֵאל (Yeḥezqel), built from the verb ḥazaq, meaning "to be strong" or "to strengthen," and El, the Hebrew word for God. Taken literally, the elements mean "God strengthens" or "may God strengthen." The initial ye- is a verb prefix typical of Hebrew names, so the whole name reads as a statement or wish about God giving strength. English Bibles traditionally render the name as Ezekiel, and Zeke is simply the clipped, informal form of it. The meaning "God strengthens" is the customary understanding of the Hebrew components rather than a word-for-word translation of the full Hebrew form.
Zeke Name History & Origins
Zeke is a shortened form of Ezekiel, and its history is essentially the history of that name's use in English. Ezekiel reaches English through the Greek Ezekiel and the Latin Ezechiel, which transliterate the Hebrew יְחֶזְקֵאל. In the Hebrew Bible, Ezekiel is a prophet and priest carried into exile in Babylon, and the book bearing his name records his visions; this biblical figure is the main reason the name entered Christian English usage.
The short form Zeke arose in English speech as a familiar nickname, created by dropping the first syllable of Ezekiel and keeping the final consonant sound. In the United States it has been used both as a nickname for Ezekiel and as a given name in its own right, particularly in rural and small-town settings. It is a separate name from Zachary and its short form Zach, despite the similar sound of the two nicknames; the two come from unrelated Hebrew names.
How Popular is the Name Zeke?
Zeke recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2022. Its best rank was #610 in 2022.
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 | #803 | 311 | 0.0182% |
| 2024 | #732 | 358 | 0.0209% |
| 2023 | #642 | 429 | 0.0251% |
| 2022 | #610 | 459 | 0.0263% |
| 2021 | #620 | 450 | 0.0257% |
| 2020 | #675 | 384 | 0.0223% |
| 2019 | #654 | 407 | 0.0227% |
| 2018 | #642 | 405 | 0.0223% |
| 2017 | #616 | 425 | 0.0230% |
| 2016 | #659 | 397 | 0.0209% |
| 2015 | #702 | 359 | 0.0187% |
| 2014 | #737 | 325 | 0.0169% |
| 2013 | #856 | 251 | 0.0133% |
| 2012 | #867 | 244 | 0.0129% |
| 2011 | #966 | 205 | 0.0108% |
| 2010 | #1,052 | 184 | 0.0096% |
| 2009 | #1,172 | 155 | 0.0078% |
| 2008 | #1,379 | 124 | 0.0061% |
| 2007 | #1,444 | 112 | 0.0054% |
| 2006 | #1,491 | 103 | 0.0050% |
| 2005 | #1,279 | 122 | 0.0061% |
| 2004 | #1,455 | 96 | 0.0048% |
| 2003 | #1,340 | 103 | 0.0052% |
| 2002 | #1,267 | 108 | 0.0056% |
| 2001 | #1,386 | 92 | 0.0047% |
| 2000 | #1,419 | 88 | 0.0045% |
| 1999 | #1,857 | 54 | 0.0028% |
| 1998 | #1,986 | 49 | 0.0026% |
| 1997 | #2,095 | 43 | 0.0023% |
| 1996 | #1,689 | 57 | 0.0030% |
| 1995 | #2,251 | 36 | 0.0019% |
| 1994 | #1,663 | 55 | 0.0028% |
| 1993 | #2,089 | 39 | 0.0020% |
| 1992 | #2,044 | 39 | 0.0020% |
| 1991 | #1,698 | 49 | 0.0024% |
| 1990 | #1,614 | 52 | 0.0025% |
| 1989 | #1,424 | 60 | 0.0030% |
| 1988 | #1,670 | 43 | 0.0022% |
| 1987 | #2,640 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1986 | #2,160 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1985 | #2,827 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1984 | #2,097 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 1983 | #1,954 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 1982 | #2,110 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 1981 | #1,694 | 35 | 0.0020% |
| 1980 | #1,695 | 35 | 0.0020% |
| 1979 | #1,569 | 38 | 0.0022% |
| 1978 | #1,472 | 41 | 0.0025% |
| 1977 | #1,514 | 38 | 0.0023% |
| 1976 | #1,747 | 30 | 0.0019% |
| 1975 | #1,428 | 39 | 0.0025% |
| 1974 | #1,691 | 29 | 0.0018% |
| 1973 | #2,035 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 1972 | #1,818 | 25 | 0.0015% |
| 1971 | #1,783 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1970 | #1,938 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1969 | #3,314 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1968 | #2,444 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1967 | #2,611 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1966 | #2,983 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1965 | #2,474 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1964 | #2,309 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1963 | #2,412 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1961 | #2,706 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1960 | #2,872 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1959 | #3,616 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1958 | #2,263 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1957 | #3,022 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1956 | #2,968 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1954 | #2,742 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1953 | #2,530 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1952 | #4,257 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1951 | #3,066 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1950 | #4,195 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1949 | #2,453 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1948 | #3,314 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1947 | #2,249 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1946 | #3,169 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1945 | #2,241 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1944 | #1,629 | 19 | 0.0014% |
| 1943 | #2,562 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1942 | #3,210 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1941 | #3,503 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1940 | #2,870 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1939 | #1,957 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1938 | #3,175 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1937 | #2,331 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1936 | #3,548 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1935 | #2,528 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1934 | #3,276 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1933 | #4,156 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1932 | #2,637 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1930 | #3,999 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1929 | #3,559 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1928 | #3,074 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1927 | #3,449 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1926 | #3,383 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1925 | #3,406 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1924 | #3,258 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1923 | #4,901 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1922 | #2,800 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1921 | #4,320 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1920 | #4,987 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1919 | #3,114 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1918 | #4,176 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1917 | #4,601 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1916 | #3,175 | 8 | 0.0009% |
| 1915 | #2,457 | 11 | 0.0013% |
| 1914 | #1,867 | 13 | 0.0020% |
| 1913 | #2,271 | 8 | 0.0016% |
| 1912 | #2,542 | 6 | 0.0014% |
| 1911 | #1,289 | 9 | 0.0040% |
| 1910 | #1,312 | 8 | 0.0041% |
| 1907 | #1,548 | 5 | 0.0034% |
| 1905 | #1,232 | 6 | 0.0045% |
| 1902 | #1,136 | 6 | 0.0049% |
| 1898 | #884 | 8 | 0.0065% |
| 1895 | #977 | 7 | 0.0060% |
| 1889 | #1,110 | 5 | 0.0045% |
| 1888 | #1,030 | 6 | 0.0050% |
| 1883 | #890 | 6 | 0.0057% |
| 1880 | #908 | 6 | 0.0054% |
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.
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How the Name Zeke Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have aspiration and inspiration, hope and guidance. Since you are intuitive and perceptive and you understand human nature. You have the power to achieve. Diplomacy and discretion make you a good mediator. You are inspired, introspective, and have a good understanding of the human heart. You can have the ability to commercialize your artistic talents successfully. You are often a mystery to others and to yourself. You are always reaching for something higher, without exactly knowing what that "higher" is. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Zeke's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Zeke's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.