Zalman
Every Zalman since 1949 — 687 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Zalman
Zalman is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #4,855 in 2025 with 21 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1949, 687 American babies have been named Zalman. Its peak came in 2021, when 27 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Zalman stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Zalman year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 21 | #4,855 |
| 2024 | 24 | #4,428 |
| 2023 | 26 | #4,216 |
| 2022 | 19 | #5,209 |
| 2021 | 27 | #4,008 |
| 2020 | 12 | #7,029 |
| 2019 | 21 | #4,803 |
| 2018 | 20 | #4,915 |
| 2017 | 14 | #6,329 |
| 2016 | 18 | #5,309 |
| 2015 | 22 | #4,542 |
| 2014 | 18 | #5,249 |
| 2013 | 5 | #14,023 |
| 2012 | 18 | #5,251 |
| 2011 | 8 | #9,579 |
| 2010 | 18 | #5,244 |
| 2009 | 18 | #5,327 |
| 2008 | 13 | #6,757 |
| 2007 | 20 | #4,804 |
| 2006 | 14 | #6,089 |
| 2005 | 16 | #5,277 |
| 2004 | 13 | #6,133 |
| 2003 | 9 | #7,817 |
| 2002 | 12 | #6,079 |
| 2001 | 13 | #5,660 |
| 2000 | 10 | #6,831 |
| 1995 | 8 | #6,988 |
| 1990 | 8 | #6,410 |
| 1985 | 8 | #5,145 |
| 1980 | 5 | #7,288 |
| 1975 | 6 | #5,456 |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Zalman
- Zalman Shazar Politician · 1889–1974
- Zalman King Film director · 1941–2012
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Zalman in 2025?
Zalman ranked #4,855 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 21 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Zalman?
687 babies have been named Zalman in the United States since 1949, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Zalman most popular?
Zalman peaked in 2021, when 27 newborns received the name.
Is Zalman a boy or girl name?
Zalman is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Zalman rising or falling?
Zalman is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Zalman?
Well-known people named Zalman include Zalman Shazar (politician), Zalman King (film director).