Meaning: Deer; gazelle; from Hebrew tzvi (deer, gazelle — an animal associated with swiftness, beauty, and grace)High
In 30 seconds: A Hebrew name meaning 'deer' or 'gazelle' — animals associated in biblical poetry with swiftness, grace, and beauty. The Song of Songs addresses the beloved as 'my gazelle.' Used in Jewish Orthodox communities.
MeaningDeer; gazelle; from Hebrew tzvi (deer, gazelle — an animal associated with swiftness, beauty, and grace)
U.S. rank (2024)#1168 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births178 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2021
Total births (all-time)≈ 4,015
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
History & Origin
Tzvi is from Hebrew tzvi (deer, gazelle). The animal symbolizes swiftness, grace, and beauty in Hebrew poetry. The name has been used in Jewish communities for centuries and remains common in Orthodox and traditional families.
Tzvi ranked #1168 for boys in 2024, used primarily in Orthodox Jewish communities.
Did you know? In the Hebrew Bible, the deer/gazelle appears as a metaphor for swiftness in love and spiritual longing — the Song of Songs compares the beloved to a gazelle, and Psalms describe the soul's longing for God as 'like a deer panting for streams of water.'
Overall data confidence 95%
Behind the Name — Tzvi — Hebrew etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data
Variations
ZviTzviZevie
Nicknames
Zev
Famous Bearers
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If you like Tzvi…
Zvi— the alternate transliteration of the same Hebrew name
Dov— Hebrew name meaning bear, in the same animal-name tradition
Ari— Hebrew name meaning lion, in the same animal virtue-name tradition
Natan— Hebrew name meaning gift, in the same Orthodox naming space
Binyamin— Hebrew form of Benjamin in the same Orthodox tradition
Frequently Asked
What does the name Tzvi mean?
Tzvi means 'deer' or 'gazelle' in Hebrew, an animal representing swiftness and grace in biblical poetry.
How do you pronounce Tzvi?
It's said TSVEE — one syllable. The TZ is a single consonant sound (as in 'pizza').
