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Home › Baby Names Directory › Zoya

Zoya

♀ Girl

Pronounced ZOY-uh /ˈzɔɪ.ə/High

Meaning: Life; Russian form of the Greek name Zoe, from Greek zoe (life)High

In 30 seconds: The Russian form of Zoe, meaning 'life' in Greek. It carries the warmth of a Slavic diminutive while retaining the ancient Greek root, giving it both exotic depth and simple directness.
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Origin HighRussian, Greek
MeaningLife; Russian form of the Greek name Zoe, from Greek zoe (life)
U.S. rank (2024)#976 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births266 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2022
Total births (all-time)≈ 4,633

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202219632024

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

Zoya is the Russian adaptation of the Greek name Zoe (zoe: life). The Greek root entered Byzantine Christianity and spread through the Eastern Orthodox world as the name of several saints. In Russian, Zoya has been a given name since at least the 19th century.

Zoya appears in U.S. birth data primarily in Russian American and South Asian communities (where it is also popular in India and Pakistan). It ranked #976 for girls in 2024.

Did you know? Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya (1923–1941) was a Soviet war heroine who became the first woman to receive the Hero of the Soviet Union designation in World War II — one of Russia's most celebrated Zoyas.
Overall data confidence 94%
Behind the Name — Zoya — etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

ZojaZoiya

Nicknames

ZoZoe

Famous Bearers

  • ★Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya (1923–1941)
    Soviet partisan and war heroine, the first woman awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union title during World War II.

If you like Zoya…

Zoe— the Greek original from which Zoya derives
Zoey— the most popular American spelling of the same Greek root
Nadia— Russian/Slavic short name with the same warm European feel
Sasha— Russian diminutive name widely used in the West
Natasha— Russian diminutive name with the same Slavic warmth

Explore names like Zoya

By themegreekshortslavicrussianlife
By meaningLife

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Zoya mean?

Zoya means 'life,' as the Russian form of the Greek name Zoe (zoe: life).

How do you pronounce Zoya?

It's said ZOY-uh — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Zoya a boy or girl name?

Zoya is used as a girls' name.

How popular is Zoya?

Zoya ranked #976 for U.S. girls in 2024.

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