Zella
Zella was the 1746th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 117 babies. Its best year was 1888, when it ranked 220th; the most babies were born in 1917 (298). Over the last ten years it has moved down 277 places. More babies were named Zella in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Meaning Not yet researched how we research meanings
- Rank in 2025
- #1,746 girls, down 79 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 117girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1917298 babies
- Total since 1880
- 13,369babies recorded
Zella popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,746 | 117 |
| 2020 | #1,667 | 124 |
| 2010 | #2,588 | 71 |
| 2000 | #6,805 | 16 |
| 1990 | — | — |
| 1980 | #10,390 | 6 |
| 1970 | #4,244 | 14 |
| 1960 | #1,885 | 37 |
| 1950 | #958 | 89 |
| 1940 | #656 | 114 |
| 1930 | #493 | 184 |
| 1920 | #429 | 244 |
| 1910 | #313 | 151 |
| 1900 | #247 | 171 |
| 1890 | #236 | 108 |
| 1880 | #281 | 31 |
How popular is Zella, counting every spelling?
Zella is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #1,432 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #1,746 for Zella on its own. Together these spellings went to 135 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zella | 117 | #1,746 | 696 |
| Zela | 12 | #8,852 | 49 |
| Zelah | 6 | #14,917 | 32 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Zella?
117 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Zella (0.03 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Zella born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 72 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Zella.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Zella?
About 4,100 people born in the US named Zella are alive today, with a median age of 17; half are between 8 and 73. That makes Zella mostly worn by children and young adults. The wide spread shows a name popular in two different eras.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Zella by state
How common Zella was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Missouri (2.8×), Tennessee (2.0×). In 30 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Zella: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Zella, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Zella
How popular is the name Zella?
Zella was the 1746th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 117 babies. Its best year was 1888, when it ranked 220th; the most babies were born in 1917 (298). Over the last ten years it has moved down 277 places. More babies were named Zella in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Is Zella a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Zella in the US.
Where is Zella most popular?
In 2021–2025, Zella was most common in Idaho (0.33 per 1,000 girls), followed by Missouri and Tennessee.