Zelda Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: ZEL-duh /ˈzɛl.də/
Origin: German; Yiddish
Meaning: German: blessed; Yiddish: woman who is a warrior
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Zelda has its roots in the Yiddish name "Zeldah," which is derived from the Hebrew word "zelda," meaning "blessed" or "happy." This name made its way into the English language through various cultural exchanges, particularly during the 19th century when Jewish communities in Eastern Europe began to migrate and integrate into broader European societies. The transition from Hebrew to Yiddish and then to English reflects a linguistic journey that highlights the name's Jewish heritage and its significance in cultural identity.
Historically, the name Zelda has been associated with notable figures, particularly in literature and the arts. One of the most prominent early uses of the name in the English-speaking world can be traced to the early 20th century, notably through the works of American author F.
Scott Fitzgerald, whose wife, Zelda Sayre, became an iconic figure of the Jazz Age. Her vibrant personality and tumultuous life story contributed to the name's association with creativity and individuality, further embedding it in cultural memory.
Culturally, Zelda has resonated in various contexts, often symbolizing strength and resilience. The name has been embraced in literature, film, and other forms of artistic expression, often representing characters who embody these traits.
Additionally, the name has been linked to themes of adventure and exploration, particularly through its association with the popular video game franchise "The Legend of Zelda," which, while modern, draws on the name's historical connotations of bravery and questing. Overall, the name Zelda carries a rich tapestry of meanings and associations that reflect its linguistic origins and historical significance, making it a name that resonates with cultural depth.
Famous people named Zelda
In this section, you will find notable people named Zelda. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Zelda who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Zelda who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Zelda Fitzgerald is an author best known for Save Me the Waltz and her tumultuous marriage to F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Zelda Williams is an actress and voice actress best known for her roles in The Legend of Korra, Dead of Summer, and as the daughter of Robin Williams.
Fictional characters named Zelda
The following list of fictional characters named Zelda 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.
Zelda is a fictional character from the video game series The Legend of Zelda. She is often portrayed as a princess with magical abilities who plays a crucial role in the fight against evil forces.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Zelda, 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 Zelda. 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 Zelda was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Zelda has ranked as high as #851 nationally, which occurred in 2020, and has been most popular in New York, California, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Illinois.
In the past 5 years the name Zelda has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Zelda 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 Zelda was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Zelda (2024)
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 | 44 | |
| TX | 36 | |
| NY | 24 | |
| FL | 21 | |
| WA | 20 | |
| OH | 17 | |
| MO | 13 | |
| NC | 12 | |
| AZ | 11 | |
| VA | 11 | |
| IL | 11 | |
| IN | 9 | |
| PA | 9 | |
| CO | 8 | |
| UT | 7 |
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 Zelda.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 376 |
| 2023 | 403 |
| 2022 | 435 |
| 2021 | 492 |
| 2020 | 526 |
| 2019 | 436 |
| 2018 | 442 |
| 2017 | 456 |
| 2016 | 426 |
| 2015 | 443 |
| 2014 | 214 |
| 2013 | 183 |
| 2012 | 139 |
| 2011 | 81 |
| 2010 | 69 |
| 2009 | 59 |
| 2008 | 54 |
| 2007 | 53 |
| 2006 | 49 |
| 2005 | 40 |
| 2004 | 30 |
| 2003 | 29 |
| 2002 | 24 |
| 2001 | 22 |
| 2000 | 31 |
| 1999 | 19 |
| 1998 | 15 |
| 1997 | 7 |
| 1996 | 14 |
| 1995 | 5 |
| 1994 | 16 |
| 1993 | 14 |
| 1992 | 14 |
| 1991 | 22 |
| 1990 | 18 |
| 1989 | 19 |
| 1988 | 17 |
| 1987 | 12 |
| 1986 | 16 |
| 1985 | 13 |
| 1984 | 12 |
| 1983 | 18 |
| 1982 | 12 |
| 1981 | 16 |
| 1980 | 19 |
| 1979 | 12 |
| 1978 | 19 |
| 1977 | 26 |
| 1976 | 17 |
| 1975 | 27 |
| 1974 | 29 |
| 1973 | 30 |
| 1972 | 39 |
| 1971 | 40 |
| 1970 | 67 |
| 1969 | 53 |
| 1968 | 95 |
| 1967 | 105 |
| 1966 | 117 |
| 1965 | 109 |
| 1964 | 133 |
| 1963 | 171 |
| 1962 | 178 |
| 1961 | 169 |
| 1960 | 135 |
| 1959 | 142 |
| 1958 | 131 |
| 1957 | 127 |
| 1956 | 141 |
| 1955 | 120 |
| 1954 | 107 |
| 1953 | 107 |
| 1952 | 96 |
| 1951 | 88 |
| 1950 | 101 |
| 1949 | 90 |
| 1948 | 108 |
| 1947 | 97 |
| 1946 | 122 |
| 1945 | 88 |
| 1944 | 111 |
| 1943 | 118 |
| 1942 | 106 |
| 1941 | 106 |
| 1940 | 128 |
| 1939 | 127 |
| 1938 | 145 |
| 1937 | 147 |
| 1936 | 124 |
| 1935 | 161 |
| 1934 | 189 |
| 1933 | 160 |
| 1932 | 197 |
| 1931 | 175 |
| 1930 | 225 |
| 1929 | 209 |
| 1928 | 233 |
| 1927 | 236 |
| 1926 | 231 |
| 1925 | 251 |
| 1924 | 250 |
| 1923 | 227 |
| 1922 | 251 |
| 1921 | 280 |
| 1920 | 208 |
| 1919 | 225 |
| 1918 | 250 |
| 1917 | 240 |
| 1916 | 258 |
| 1915 | 230 |
| 1914 | 159 |
| 1913 | 155 |
| 1912 | 134 |
| 1911 | 117 |
| 1910 | 86 |
| 1909 | 62 |
| 1908 | 86 |
| 1907 | 67 |
| 1906 | 64 |
| 1905 | 76 |
| 1904 | 68 |
| 1903 | 45 |
| 1902 | 38 |
| 1901 | 43 |
| 1900 | 46 |
| 1899 | 35 |
| 1898 | 38 |
| 1897 | 27 |
| 1896 | 31 |
| 1895 | 28 |
| 1894 | 25 |
| 1893 | 25 |
| 1892 | 15 |
| 1891 | 16 |
| 1890 | 14 |
| 1889 | 13 |
| 1888 | 11 |
| 1887 | 5 |
| 1886 | 8 |
| 1885 | 6 |
| 1884 | 7 |
| 1882 | 6 |
| 1880 | 6 |