Zoya
Zoya is a girl name of Russian origin meaning “Life”, pronounced ZOY-ah. It ranked #1002 in the United States in 2025, given to 252 babies, and peaked at #792 in 2022. Common nicknames: Zo, Zoyka.
How popular is Zoya in the United States?
Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA). Based on all Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
What does Zoya mean, and where does it come from?
Zoya is the Russian form of Zoe, from the Greek for life, and it has been a common name in Russia, Ukraine and Bulgaria for a century. Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya, an eighteen-year-old partisan executed by the Wehrmacht in 1941, became the Soviet Union's most widely known wartime martyr and gave the name a weight it still carries there. In India and Pakistan it is used as a form of the Arabic Zoya, "loving." American records hold it from 1963; it entered the top thousand in 2020.
How is Zoya used around the world?
Zoya is used in 3 languages worldwide, with 7+ international variants.
TypeFemale given name
Linguistic data: Wikidata (CC0). Variants and language usage may vary by region.
What are the nicknames for Zoya?
Famous People Named Zoya
- Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya — Soviet partisan and Hero of the Soviet Union
- Zoya Akhtar — Indian film director and screenwriter
- Zoya Fyodorova — Soviet actress
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Sibling Name Ideas for Zoya
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Zoya mean?
Zoya is a girl name of Russian origin meaning "Life." Zoya is the Russian form of Zoe, from the Greek for life, and it has been a common name in Russia, Ukraine and Bulgaria for a century. Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya, an eighteen-year-old partisan executed by the Wehrmacht in 1941, became the Soviet Union's most widely known wartime martyr and gave the name a weight it still carries there.
How do you pronounce Zoya?
Zoya is pronounced ZOY-ah. Common variations include Zoia, Zoe, Zoja.
Is Zoya a girl name?
Yes, Zoya is traditionally a girl name. Popular nicknames include Zo, Zoyka.