# 3 is the magic number......of kids! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 7, 2004, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-is-the-magic-number-of-kids/233008 "2004-03-07T20:22:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Nichol\_storm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Nichol\_storm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nichol_storm)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-is-the-magic-number-of-kids/233008/21 "2004-03-10T02:38:00Z")
> [@moejuck](#): > > We have a Zara and a Zeke (short for Ezekiel). My wife likes Zoe, but it is hard to imagine naming my child after a Sesame Street character. Would anyone care to comment on my favorite name so far: Zeta? Just my 00.02… Zora is too close to Zara, I’d stay away (sorry **Miss Bianca** ). Most “z” female names seem to be Arabic; there’s Zainab, Zuleikha, Zoraida, Zahra, and Ziya, among others. Other Greek names besides Zoe are Zenais, Zenobia (the name of a totally badass Syrian queen), and Zosime. For boys, I really like your pick of Zane; it reminds me of Zane Grey, the author. Otherwise, there’s Zachary (I prefer Zachariah), Zephyr, and Zebadiah. Or even Zander, short for Alexander, since you have a Zeke, short for Ezekiel. ---
**Author:** ![bigsister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bigsister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bigsister)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2004, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-is-the-magic-number-of-kids/233008/22 "2004-03-15T04:02:58Z")
Congratulations again “little brother”. Personally I like Zoe better than Zeta (unless you’re related to Catherine Zeta-Jones - she is beautiful though), but you know how plain and simple I am. I like Zane a lot and I also like Zach - you could always go for Zonk (just kidding). Good thing we get almost 9 months to figure these things out! ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2004, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-is-the-magic-number-of-kids/233008/23 "2004-03-15T11:12:01Z")
> [@bigsister](#): > > you could always go for Zonk (just kidding). Good thing we get almost 9 months to figure these things out! I now want to have a kid just so I can name it “Zonk” ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2004, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-is-the-magic-number-of-kids/233008/24 "2004-03-15T13:13:22Z")
Zander (male) or Zandra (female). ---
**Author:** ![moejuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@moejuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejuck)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2004, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-is-the-magic-number-of-kids/233008/25 "2004-03-15T15:04:52Z")
> [@AngelicGemma](#): > > I now want to have a kid just so I can name it “Zonk” **Big Sister** knows that I always wanted to have 3 boys named Zeke, Zach, and Zonk. Too bad the Mrs. won’t go for it. ---
**Author:** ![mlerose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@mlerose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlerose)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2004, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-is-the-magic-number-of-kids/233008/26 "2004-03-15T16:09:14Z")
I was friends with a girl, once upon a time, whose name was Zura (too close to your Zara). She had brothers named Zeb (Zebulon) and Zion. Their last name began with a Y. ---
**Author:** ![mlerose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@mlerose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlerose)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2004, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-is-the-magic-number-of-kids/233008/27 "2004-03-15T16:13:00Z")
I forgot; I know someone who got to pick his own name when he was 13. The name he picked? Zuriel. I like Zuriel. ---
**Author:** ![Pebbles131](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/eada6e/32.png) [@Pebbles131](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pebbles131)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2004, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-is-the-magic-number-of-kids/233008/28 "2004-03-15T17:16:56Z")
3 little girls of 2,4 and 6 here. Your life as a parent is over, you are now officially a referee! ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2004, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-is-the-magic-number-of-kids/233008/29 "2004-03-15T17:56:52Z")
> [@moejuck](#): > > So far, we like Zeta for a girl, and Zane for a boy. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Since Zane reminds me of a city nearby for both of us, **moejuck** , I think I’d have to recommend “Y-Bridge.” You know you want to! 😃 Congrats. Julie ---
**Author:** ![flamingbananas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f4b2a3/32.png) [@flamingbananas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flamingbananas)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2004, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-is-the-magic-number-of-kids/233008/30 "2004-03-15T21:51:09Z")
> [@moejuck](#): > > Both of our children have names that start with “z”, so we are running out of options if we plan to keep this going. So far, we like Zeta for a girl, and Zane for a boy. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Hmmm…Maybe Zenster? how about Zelda, or Zack? ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2004, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-is-the-magic-number-of-kids/233008/31 "2004-03-15T22:21:29Z")
If it’s Zack, then we know he’ll end up a Legomaniac… ---
**Author:** ![tanookie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/48db29/32.png) [@tanookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanookie)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2004, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-is-the-magic-number-of-kids/233008/32 "2004-03-15T23:04:54Z")
> [@dantheman](#): > > If it’s Zack, then we know he’ll end up a Legomaniac… Great, thanks! I told my husband no one remembered that when he voiced his concerns about naming our son Zachary. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2004, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-is-the-magic-number-of-kids/233008/33 "2004-03-15T23:12:43Z")
Congratulations! As for the name, what’s wrong with Zoe? Plenty of people are called Zoe. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2004, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-is-the-magic-number-of-kids/233008/34 "2004-03-16T00:00:39Z")
I know a woman named Alexandra who goes by “Zaz”, which has a nice ring to it. I would give top recommendation to “Zelda”, the name of my late grandmother, an incredibly classy woman in every way, except that it’s now been co-opted by the video game… ---
**Author:** ![emekthian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecae2f/32.png) [@emekthian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emekthian)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2004, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-is-the-magic-number-of-kids/233008/35 "2004-03-16T00:28:22Z")
> [@](#): > > I would give top recommendation to “Zelda”, the name of my late grandmother, an incredibly classy woman in every way, except that it’s now been co-opted by the video game… What’s wrong with that? I plan to name my child Mario if it’s a boy, and Samus Aran if it’s a girl. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2004, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-is-the-magic-number-of-kids/233008/36 "2004-03-16T00:34:39Z")
> [@emekthian](#): > > What’s wrong with that? > I plan to name my child Mario if it’s a boy, and Samus Aran if it’s a girl. That’s silly! Everyone knows Luigi was the cool brother. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2004, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-is-the-magic-number-of-kids/233008/37 "2004-03-16T13:49:04Z")
Hmm… Zorak Zeus here’s one that fits either way… Zuul 😉 Congrats, btw 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2004, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-is-the-magic-number-of-kids/233008/38 "2004-03-16T16:26:18Z")
Might I suggest Zinaida (zi-NYE-da) or Zarya (zar-YA) for a girl? Lovely Russian names - ‘Zarya’ means “dawn”, to boot. Can’t think of any boy’s names, but I’d like to second Zebulon. You can take him to Pike’s Peak. ---
**Author:** ![green\_bladder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@green\_bladder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/green_bladder)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2004, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-is-the-magic-number-of-kids/233008/39 "2004-03-16T16:36:54Z")
Congrats, **moejuck**! so where do I send this bill then? ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2004, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-is-the-magic-number-of-kids/233008/40 "2004-03-16T20:45:52Z")
I had a wonderful aunt named Zada. I’ve always liked Zoe and Zoey, and I went to school with a way cool girl named Zelda Zinn. For boys I like Zach, and Zeke. Congrats! I only had one, and I can’t imagine what it’s like to have three! Good luck! Thank God mine is mostly grown up now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-is-the-magic-number-of-kids/233008.md?page=1)