National Zane Day – October 18, 2022, history, significance
Every year, we celebrate National Zane Day on October 18. ‘Zane’ is a masculine name that can have multiple meanings, depending on which root we are tracing it back to. As a Hebrew boy’s name, it conveys the message “God is gracious,” and as an Arabic name, it means ‘beloved,’ ‘beauty,’ or ‘grace.’ In English, ‘Zane’ began as a surname with unclear origins, but gained popularity as a first name thanks to Zane Grey, the novelist. Today, we celebrate those who have the honor of carrying this versatile and unique name.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL ZANE DAY
Zane is a given name as well as a surname. As it’s already a stylized version of different words, its origin and meaning diverge, according to the root we are tracing it back to. As it is, its Western origins are in the Venetian version of ‘Gianni’ or a variant spelling of the German and Jewish names ‘Zahn.’ It was American author Zane Grey who popularized it as a given name in the early 20th Century, and Ebenezer Zane, the person after who Zanesville, Ohio was named, was his ancestor.
Since the heyday of Grey novels, such as “The Riders of the Purple Sage” in 1921, the name Zane has been on the popularity list just as much as its variants. For instance, other versions of the name include ‘Zayden,’ ‘Zayne,’ and ‘Zayn,’ as in singer Zayn Malik, which is an Arabic name that sounds identical to Zane but has a different root.
Between 1880 and 2014, the number of people with the Zane surname increased by 722% in the U.S., and, aside from a peak in 2018, the year in which the name was most popular, interest in the name has remained quite stable in the previous 10 years, both all over the world and nationwide. In 2021, over 1,000 people were born as ‘Zanes’ in the U.S. alone.
NATIONAL ZANE DAY TIMELINE
1921
The Riders of The Purple Sage
Zane Grey publishes his most known novel, “The Riders of the Purple Sage”.
1940
‘Zane’ in the Work Census
Laborer and waitress are the top reported jobs for men and women named Zane in the U.S.
2018
‘Zane’ Peaks In Popularity
Of the babies born in the U.S. 2,025 babies are called Zane.
2022
National Zane Day
We celebrate all the Zanes out there.
NATIONAL ZANE DAY ACTIVITIES
Get some custom balloons
It’s never a bad idea to have balloons on hand. Buy some custom balloons with the name Zane and decorate!
Share on social media
Spread the word on your Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Let’s shine a light on all the amazing Zanes out there.
Talk about your favorite Zane
Whether it is famous author Zane Grey or your childhood friend Zane, talk about them. It’s all about showing appreciation.
5 INCREDIBLE FACTS ABOUT ZANE
There are thousands of them
With over 8,500 ‘Zanes’ out there, it is the 2,275th most frequently given name in the U.S.
It peaked first in 1926
After Grey published his most popular book, the name peaked in 1926 before gaining popularity again in the 50s.
It’s a very popular name
In the last 200 years, over 51,000 boys have been given the name Zane.
It peaked again in 2002
That year, Zane became the most popular baby name in the U.S.
Zane Grey’s 150th anniversary
As he was born in 1872, 2022 is Grey’s 150th anniversary.
WHY WE LOVE NATIONAL ZANE DAY
Names preserve our existence
Names are a means of remembering all of us, those who are still here and those who have passed away. They are also ways of preserving our own lives, and their power has to be celebrated.
Our name is a part of our identity
Your name is a part of your identity. It’s something you should always feel comfortable with. Days like these remind us of that.
Names link us to our ancestors
Names connect us to our past. They tell our stories and are reflections of our heritage.
