Total births
247
Unisex name · since 2004
Zai
247 babies named Zai in U.S. Social Security records since 2004, with the highest year being 2024. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- #3966
- among boys today
- 247
- born since 2004
- 2020s
- peak decade
- 72%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Zai is the #3966 most popular unisex name in the U.S. today, with 247 recorded since 2004.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Zai has been recorded 247 times among boys since 2004, currently ranked #3966 nationally and more common than 72% of boys, with its heaviest use in the 2020s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 2004 to 2025.
- #3966 among boys today
- 247 born since 2004
- 2020s peak decade
- 72% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Zai is currently the #3966 unisex name in America, more common than 72% of boys - 247 born since 2004, peaking in the 2020s.
- #3966
- among boys today
- 247
- born since 2004
- 2020s
- peak decade
- 72%
- more common than other boys
Zai vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#3966
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 72% of names given to boys today.
2020s
Peak decade
56% of everyone ever named Zai was born in this single decade.
2024
Single peak year
28 babies were named Zai in 2024 - its busiest year on record.
How Zai compares
247 42th percentile among 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Zai's all-time total is 33% below the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Zai | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 247 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 28 | 23 | 22,252 |
Zai's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Zai splits its recorded history at 2017: 70% of all births land in the more recent half, 30% in the earlier half, a lean toward present-day use rather than a passing spike. The single quietest year was 2004 (5 births) -- compare that against the 2024 peak of 28 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Zai at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2024
Current rank
#3,966
Active since
2004
Zai popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 2004–2025
- Peak year (2024)
- 28
- Annual births at peak, across 22 years of records
Zai popularity over time - girls
71 total births recorded since 2001 (Zai as girls' name)
Zai by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2020s was Zai's strongest decade.
139 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 56% of all-time use.
Zai births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 2000s 10
2000s
10 births
- 2010s
2010s
98 births
- 2020s
2020s
139 births
What this shows Peak: 2020s at 139 births (56% of all-time use).
Zai by state
Where Zai concentrates geographically, total births since 2004
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 10 | 4.0% |
| #2 | Texas | | 6 | 2.4% |
| #3 | Florida | | 5 | 2.0% |
California share of Zai's total US births 4.0%
Even split
10 of 247 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 3 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Zai? ▼
Since 2004, Social Security records show 247 babies named Zai. Today it holds rank #3966 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 2024, with 28 births.
When was Zai most popular? ▼
Zai was most popular in the 2020s decade with 139 total births. The single peak year was 2024.
Where is Zai most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Zai are California (10 births), Texas (6 births), Florida (5 births).
Is Zai a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Zai is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 247 births, and as a girl's name it has 71 births.
How long has the name Zai been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Zai since 2004 -- 22 years through the most recent 2025 data.
What names are similar to Zai? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Zaiden, Zain, Zaire, Zaid, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Zai's data
- California records the most Zais (10 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Zai
Nearby Names Like Zai
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Zai
Zaiden Boy
#574 11,550 births
Zain Boy
#557 9,918 births
Zaire Boy
#470 9,465 births
Zaid Boy
#660 7,460 births
Zaine Boy
#2226 2,000 births
Compare Zai side by side: Zai vs Zaiden Zai vs Zain Zai vs Zaire
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Zai
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 2004–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Zai: #3966 Unisex Name - 247 Births, Peak 2024." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/zai. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Zai draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.