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Home › Baby Names Directory › Zoltan

Zoltan

♂ Boy

Pronounced ZOHL-tahn /ˈzoʊl.tɑn/Medium

Meaning: From Hungarian, 'a sultan; a ruler' (linked to the Turkic title sultan); also read as 'life'Low

In 30 seconds: A sultan; a ruler: Zoltan is Hungarian. Crisp, classic, and warm (said 'ZOHL-tahn').
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Origin LowHungarian
MeaningFrom Hungarian, 'a sultan; a ruler' (linked to the Turkic title sultan); also read as 'life'
U.S. rank (2025)#13919 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1967
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,023

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 196719122025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Zoltan comes from Hungarian, 'a sultan; a ruler' (linked to the Turkic title sultan; also read as 'life'; borne by Zoltan, a son of Arpad). A crisp, classic name (said 'ZOHL-tahn').

In the U.S. it appears in Hungarian families. Rare, a-sultan-and-a-ruler at the root, and classic.

Did you know? Zoltan means 'a sultan; a ruler' in Hungarian (linked to the Turkic title sultan) — borne by a son of Arpad, a founding Hungarian chieftain — crisp and classic (said 'ZOHL-tahn').
Overall data confidence 44%
References — Zoltan — Hungarian etymology

Variations

ZoltonZsoltZoli

Nicknames

Zoli

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Zoltan…

Attila— a fellow Hungarian boys' name
Bela— a sound-neighbor Hungarian boys' name
Zolan— lands in the same popularity range
Kalman— a similarly popular pick
Ervin— shares Zoltan's Hungarian roots

Explore names like Zoltan

By themehungarian
By meaningRoyal / NobleLife

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Zoltan mean?

Zoltan is Hungarian for 'a sultan; a ruler' (also read as 'life').

How do you pronounce Zoltan?

It's said ZOHL-tahn /ˈzoʊl.tɑn/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Zoltan a boy or girl name?

Zoltan is a boy's name.

How popular is Zoltan?

Zoltan is a rare name in the U.S.

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