Zev

זְאֵב

• Gender: Male
• Origin: Modern Hebrew
• Meaning: wolf

• Zev means "wolf" in Hebrew and traces back to the blessing Jacob gave his son Benjamin, comparing the youngest tribe to a fierce, ravenous wolf. It is a name with primal energy and serious biblical credentials, yet it sits comfortably in the modern world thanks to its clean, single-syllable punch. Reality star Adam Gottschalk recently used it as his son's middle name, honoring a great-grandfather — proof the name is crossing into new circles while keeping its roots.

  This name is having a serious moment, and for good reason. It has the same sleek, one-syllable magnetism as Kai or Ace but with thousands of years of Jewish heritage behind it. The wolf imagery gives it an edge that ages brilliantly from toddler to teenager to adult. Cool, fierce, and honoring the tribe of Benjamin — there is not much more you can ask of three letters.

• Alternate Spellings: Zeev, Ze'ev
• Potential Sibling Name:
  Laila
  ,
  Sivan
  ,
  Erez
  ,
  Ari
• Theme: animals