What does Ariana mean?
Usually traced to the Greek Ariadne, “most holy.”
What does Zoe mean?
From Greek 'zoe' (ζωή) meaning 'life'. Adopted by Hellenistic Jews and early Christians as a translation of Eve ('life').
Ariana vs Zoe
Which is more popular?
Zoe is more popular than Ariana today: about 5,646 US babies were given the name Zoe in 2025, compared with 2,219 named Ariana.
| Ariana | Zoe | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Most holy | Life |
| Origin | Greek | greek |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | ar-ee-AH-nuh | ZOH-ee |
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1957 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2014 (5,504) | 2012 (6,466) |
| In 2025 | 2,219 | 5,646 |
| Trend | Declining | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Ariana
Zoe
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Ariana | Zoe |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 16,532 | 31,129 |
| 2010s | 41,342 | 58,094 |
| 2000s | 38,010 | 48,755 |
| 1990s | 18,864 | 16,791 |
| 1980s | 4,685 | 1,999 |
| 1970s | 788 | 1,120 |
| 1960s | 154 | 952 |
| 1950s | 5 | 1,109 |
| 1940s | 0 | 569 |
| 1930s | 0 | 735 |
| 1920s | 0 | 694 |
| 1910s | 0 | 466 |
| 1900s | 0 | 239 |
| 1890s | 0 | 323 |
| 1880s | 0 | 281 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ariana or Zoe more popular?
Zoe is more popular than Ariana today: about 5,646 US babies were given the name Zoe in 2025, compared with 2,219 named Ariana.
What is the difference between Ariana and Zoe?
Ariana means Most holy (Greek origin), while Zoe means Life (greek origin).
Which name is older, Ariana or Zoe?
In US records, Ariana first appears in 1957 and Zoe in 1880, so Zoe has the longer recorded history.