Major Ernest Wilson Hubbell, Chief Inspector of the Dominion Land Survey,[2] recorded the name "Zammah River" in his field notes as the transliteration of the name of a Slavey Chief (Slavey Indians are now known as the Dene Tha' First Nation).

The Geographic Board of Canada recorded the name "Zama River" on 4 July 1922 without explanation for the spelling change.

The Dene Tha' do not use the name "Zama Lake", but use names in the Slavey language to identify the lake; some use K’ah Woti Túé (“Main Blind Lake” referring to a hunting blind) and others use Tulonh Mieh (“Where the Water Ends”).

[3] The lake is located approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) northeast of Rainbow Lake and 115 kilometres (71 mi) west northwest of High Level,[3] at the confluence of Zama River and Hay River.

The Hay-Zama Lakes complex is a Ramsar site for its importance to spring and fall migrating ducks and geese.