I know Z as upward. X and Y were always on the base plane representing length and width. Z comes in being all like, "Now we're being 3D!"
So wherever the "floor" is, represented with gridlines, boundary, canvas, etc. that's where they live. That is Flatland where there is no up or down. It is 2D where most of my work is. If you try tell me Y is Z, I'd ask "wtf is a Z?"