Total births
44
Boys' name · since 1973
Zef
44 babies named Zef in U.S. Social Security records since 1973, with the highest year being 1973. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- 44
- total births
- 1973–2023
- years on record
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 27%
- born in that decade
44 boys have been named Zef since 1973, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Social Security Administration records show Zef recorded 44 times among boys since 1973, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used boys names, peaking in the 2010s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1973 to 2023.
- 44 total births
- 1973–2023 years on record
- 2010s peak decade
- 27% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
44 boys have been named Zef since 1973, peaking in the 2010s, last recorded in 2023.
- 44
- total births
- 1973–2023
- years on record
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 27%
- born in that decade
2010s
Peak decade
27% of everyone ever named Zef was born in this single decade.
1973
Single peak year
6 babies were named Zef in 1973 - its busiest year on record.
Zef's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Zef's SSA record in two at 2000 and the more recent half accounts for 52% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 48%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1983, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1973 peak of 6, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Zef at a glance
Last recorded 2023Peak year
1973
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1973
Zef popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1973–2023
- Peak year (1973)
- 6
- Annual births at peak, across 51 years of records
Zef by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Zef's strongest decade.
12 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 27% of all-time use.
Zef births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s
1970s
6 births
- 1980s
1980s
10 births
- 1990s
1990s
5 births
- 2000s
2000s
6 births
- 2010s
2010s
12 births
- 2020s
2020s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 12 births (27% of all-time use).
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Zef? ▼
Since 1973, Social Security records show 44 babies named Zef. The most recent recorded year was 2023. Its busiest year on record was 1973, with 6 births.
When was Zef most popular? ▼
Zef was most popular in the 2010s decade with 12 total births. The single peak year was 1973.
How long has the name Zef been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Zef since 1973 -- 51 years through the most recent 2023 data.
What names are similar to Zef? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Zeferino, Zefram. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Zef's data
- Zef's usage has stayed within range of its 2010s decade-level peak (12 total births) through the 2020s (5) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- 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 Zef
Nearby Names Like Zef
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Zef
Compare Zef side by side: Zef vs Zeferino Zef vs Zefram
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 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, 1973–2023 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Zef: Baby Name Since 1973 - 44 Births, Peak 1973." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/zef. 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 Zef 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 July 2026.