Cinderella Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: sin-der-ella //sɪnˈdɛr.ɛ.lə//
Origin: French; Latin
Meaning: French: little ashes; Latin: one who is like the ashes
Historical & Cultural Background
The name "Cinderella" is derived from the French "Cendrillon," which itself comes from the word "cendre," meaning "ash" or "cinder." This etymology reflects the character's association with the ashes of the fireplace, symbolizing her humble beginnings and the hardships she endures. The earliest known version of the Cinderella story can be traced back to the 1st century BCE in the tale of Rhodopis, a Greek slave girl who marries the king of Egypt.
However, the most recognized form of the story emerged in the 17th century through Charles Perrault's "Cendrillon, ou la petite pantoufle de verre," published in 1697, which introduced key elements such as the glass slipper and the fairy godmother. The tale of Cinderella has been adapted and retold across various cultures, with notable versions appearing in the works of the Brothers Grimm in the early 19th century, titled "Aschenputtel." These adaptations often reflect the societal values and norms of their respective times, emphasizing themes of virtue, resilience, and the eventual triumph of good over evil.
The story has been a significant part of Western literary tradition, influencing countless adaptations in literature, theater, and film. Cinderella's cultural resonance lies in her transformation from a mistreated girl to a beloved princess, symbolizing hope and the belief in the possibility of change.
The character has become an archetype for the 'rags to riches' narrative, embodying the idea that kindness and perseverance can lead to a better life. The name itself has also inspired various diminutive forms, such as "Cindy," which carry a sense of familiarity and affection.
Overall, Cinderella remains a powerful symbol of resilience and the enduring nature of fairy tales throughout history.
Fictional characters named Cinderella
The following list of fictional characters named Cinderella is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Cinderella is a fictional character from the fairy tale Cinderella. She is a kind young woman who overcomes adversity with the help of her fairy godmother to attend the royal ball and win the heart of the prince.
Cinderella is a fictional character from the Disney animated film Cinderella. She is a mistreated girl who transforms her life with the help of magic and love, ultimately finding her happily ever after.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Cinderella, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Cinderella. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Cinderella was first seen in the United States in 1894.
Cinderella has ranked as high as #871 nationally, which occurred in 1922, and has been most popular in North Carolina, and California.
In the past 5 years the name Cinderella has been trending about the same compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Cinderella is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Cinderella was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Cinderella (1965)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 6 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Cinderella.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2023 | 9 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2001 | 8 |
| 2000 | 9 |
| 1999 | 10 |
| 1992 | 6 |
| 1991 | 6 |
| 1990 | 5 |
| 1989 | 5 |
| 1983 | 5 |
| 1981 | 7 |
| 1980 | 5 |
| 1978 | 5 |
| 1977 | 5 |
| 1976 | 10 |
| 1970 | 11 |
| 1968 | 7 |
| 1967 | 7 |
| 1966 | 8 |
| 1965 | 15 |
| 1964 | 12 |
| 1963 | 8 |
| 1962 | 15 |
| 1961 | 16 |
| 1960 | 11 |
| 1959 | 13 |
| 1958 | 18 |
| 1957 | 9 |
| 1956 | 15 |
| 1955 | 15 |
| 1954 | 17 |
| 1953 | 14 |
| 1952 | 19 |
| 1951 | 23 |
| 1950 | 19 |
| 1949 | 15 |
| 1948 | 11 |
| 1947 | 9 |
| 1946 | 15 |
| 1945 | 10 |
| 1944 | 11 |
| 1942 | 11 |
| 1941 | 16 |
| 1940 | 9 |
| 1938 | 7 |
| 1937 | 5 |
| 1936 | 5 |
| 1935 | 5 |
| 1934 | 12 |
| 1933 | 10 |
| 1932 | 9 |
| 1931 | 12 |
| 1930 | 6 |
| 1929 | 14 |
| 1928 | 9 |
| 1927 | 21 |
| 1926 | 10 |
| 1925 | 11 |
| 1924 | 18 |
| 1923 | 16 |
| 1922 | 25 |
| 1921 | 23 |
| 1920 | 11 |
| 1919 | 16 |
| 1918 | 7 |
| 1917 | 16 |
| 1916 | 9 |
| 1915 | 11 |
| 1914 | 6 |
| 1913 | 11 |
| 1912 | 5 |
| 1911 | 7 |
| 1907 | 6 |
| 1904 | 8 |
| 1900 | 5 |
| 1897 | 5 |
| 1894 | 7 |