Save Gender Feminine Usage American (Modern, Rare) Pronounced Pron. ZEHN-ee [key·IPA] Other Forms FormsZenni Meaning & History Meaning uncertain, possibly a variant of Zen or Zenia, a diminutive of Zenaida or Zenobia, or based on the Greek Xeni or Xenia. It also coincides with an Italian surname (see Zeni), and is the name Inez spelled backwards.