Zella Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: ZEL-uh /ˈzɛlə/
Origin: Hebrew; African
Meaning: Hebrew: 'God's chosen'; African: 'dawn'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Zella has its roots in Hebrew, derived from the word "zel," which means "shadow" or "shade." This etymology reflects a connection to nature and the protective qualities associated with shadows. The name made its way into English through various linguistic transformations, likely passing through the Germanic languages before being adopted into modern English usage.
The transition from Hebrew to English is not direct, but the name's adoption reflects broader cultural exchanges over centuries, particularly during periods of migration and the spread of Jewish communities across Europe. Historically, the name Zella has been associated with various figures and events, although it does not have a singularly prominent historical milestone like some other names.
It appears in various forms in literature and records from the 19th century, suggesting its use among families who valued its unique sound and meaning. The name has also been linked to the tradition of naming children after ancestors or significant figures within families, which was a common practice in many cultures.
Culturally, Zella carries connotations of femininity and grace, often associated with the qualities of protection and comfort that shadows provide. The name has been embraced in various artistic expressions, including literature and music, where it symbolizes a nurturing presence.
While diminutive forms or variations may exist, Zella stands out for its simplicity and elegance, making it a name that resonates across different cultures and eras. Its enduring appeal can be attributed to its lyrical quality and the positive imagery it evokes.
Famous people named Zella
In this section, you will find notable people named Zella. 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 Zella who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Zella 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.
Zella Day is a singer-songwriter best known for her songs "Hypnotic," "Sweet Ophelia," and "East of Eden.".
Zella Jackson Price is a gospel singer best known for her work in the genre and her contributions to various church choirs.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Zella, 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 Zella. 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 Zella was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Zella has ranked as high as #570 nationally, which occurred in 1917, and has been most popular in Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, Ohio, and Tennessee.
In the past 5 years the name Zella has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Zella 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 Zella was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Zella (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 |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 11 | |
| MO | 7 | |
| CA | 6 | |
| IN | 6 | |
| NC | 6 | |
| TN | 5 |
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 Zella.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 108 |
| 2023 | 131 |
| 2022 | 156 |
| 2021 | 183 |
| 2020 | 124 |
| 2019 | 162 |
| 2018 | 166 |
| 2017 | 159 |
| 2016 | 156 |
| 2015 | 157 |
| 2014 | 84 |
| 2013 | 102 |
| 2012 | 92 |
| 2011 | 90 |
| 2010 | 71 |
| 2009 | 60 |
| 2008 | 53 |
| 2007 | 48 |
| 2006 | 40 |
| 2005 | 35 |
| 2004 | 34 |
| 2003 | 17 |
| 2002 | 15 |
| 2001 | 16 |
| 2000 | 16 |
| 1999 | 8 |
| 1998 | 7 |
| 1997 | 6 |
| 1996 | 5 |
| 1995 | 7 |
| 1994 | 8 |
| 1992 | 9 |
| 1991 | 5 |
| 1988 | 6 |
| 1986 | 5 |
| 1985 | 5 |
| 1984 | 7 |
| 1982 | 9 |
| 1981 | 11 |
| 1980 | 6 |
| 1979 | 5 |
| 1975 | 15 |
| 1974 | 14 |
| 1973 | 11 |
| 1972 | 20 |
| 1971 | 11 |
| 1970 | 14 |
| 1969 | 18 |
| 1968 | 23 |
| 1967 | 20 |
| 1966 | 18 |
| 1965 | 35 |
| 1964 | 27 |
| 1963 | 41 |
| 1962 | 41 |
| 1961 | 56 |
| 1960 | 37 |
| 1959 | 45 |
| 1958 | 44 |
| 1957 | 39 |
| 1956 | 54 |
| 1955 | 50 |
| 1954 | 48 |
| 1953 | 60 |
| 1952 | 67 |
| 1951 | 75 |
| 1950 | 89 |
| 1949 | 83 |
| 1948 | 92 |
| 1947 | 99 |
| 1946 | 80 |
| 1945 | 98 |
| 1944 | 81 |
| 1943 | 113 |
| 1942 | 86 |
| 1941 | 78 |
| 1940 | 114 |
| 1939 | 113 |
| 1938 | 119 |
| 1937 | 110 |
| 1936 | 112 |
| 1935 | 131 |
| 1934 | 137 |
| 1933 | 151 |
| 1932 | 158 |
| 1931 | 159 |
| 1930 | 184 |
| 1929 | 179 |
| 1928 | 213 |
| 1927 | 190 |
| 1926 | 216 |
| 1925 | 228 |
| 1924 | 235 |
| 1923 | 267 |
| 1922 | 235 |
| 1921 | 280 |
| 1920 | 244 |
| 1919 | 255 |
| 1918 | 244 |
| 1917 | 298 |
| 1916 | 248 |
| 1915 | 265 |
| 1914 | 224 |
| 1913 | 199 |
| 1912 | 186 |
| 1911 | 144 |
| 1910 | 151 |
| 1909 | 131 |
| 1908 | 125 |
| 1907 | 123 |
| 1906 | 108 |
| 1905 | 110 |
| 1904 | 126 |
| 1903 | 132 |
| 1902 | 124 |
| 1901 | 122 |
| 1900 | 171 |
| 1899 | 102 |
| 1898 | 115 |
| 1897 | 128 |
| 1896 | 130 |
| 1895 | 137 |
| 1894 | 138 |
| 1893 | 109 |
| 1892 | 102 |
| 1891 | 115 |
| 1890 | 108 |
| 1889 | 96 |
| 1888 | 111 |
| 1887 | 67 |
| 1886 | 72 |
| 1885 | 56 |
| 1884 | 63 |
| 1883 | 55 |
| 1882 | 50 |
| 1881 | 38 |
| 1880 | 31 |