Zelda Girl

Popularity: #592 · Trend: ↗ Rising

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
15%
TX 36
12%
NY 24
8%
FL 21
7%
WA 20
7%
OH 17
6%
MO 13
4%
NC 12
4%
AZ 11
4%
VA 11
4%
IL 11
4%
IN 9
3%
PA 9
3%
CO 8
3%
UT 7
2%

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.

YearBirths
2024376
2023403
2022435
2021492
2020526
2019436
2018442
2017456
2016426
2015443
2014214
2013183
2012139
201181
201069
200959
200854
200753
200649
200540
200430
200329
200224
200122
200031
199919
199815
19977
199614
19955
199416
199314
199214
199122
199018
198919
198817
198712
198616
198513
198412
198318
198212
198116
198019
197912
197819
197726
197617
197527
197429
197330
197239
197140
197067
196953
196895
1967105
1966117
1965109
1964133
1963171
1962178
1961169
1960135
1959142
1958131
1957127
1956141
1955120
1954107
1953107
195296
195188
1950101
194990
1948108
194797
1946122
194588
1944111
1943118
1942106
1941106
1940128
1939127
1938145
1937147
1936124
1935161
1934189
1933160
1932197
1931175
1930225
1929209
1928233
1927236
1926231
1925251
1924250
1923227
1922251
1921280
1920208
1919225
1918250
1917240
1916258
1915230
1914159
1913155
1912134
1911117
191086
190962
190886
190767
190664
190576
190468
190345
190238
190143
190046
189935
189838
189727
189631
189528
189425
189325
189215
189116
189014
188913
188811
18875
18868
18856
18847
18826
18806