Zola Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: ZOH-lah /ˈzoʊ.lə/
Origin: African; Hebrew
Meaning: African: quiet; Hebrew: stillness
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Zola has its roots in the African language of Zulu, where it means "calm" or "tranquil." This etymology reflects a serene quality, which is significant in various cultural contexts. The name was later adopted into French, where it became associated with the literary figure Émile Zola, a prominent novelist of the late 19th century known for his contributions to the naturalism literary movement.
His works, which often explored social issues and the human condition, helped to popularize the name in French-speaking regions and beyond. Historically, the name Zola gained further recognition through its association with notable figures in literature and the arts.
Émile Zola, born in 1840, was instrumental in the development of modern literature and is best known for his series of novels titled "Les Rougon-Macquart," which depicted the lives of a family during the Second French Empire. His influence extended to the Dreyfus Affair, where he famously penned the open letter "J'accuse" in 1898, advocating for justice and exposing anti-Semitism in France.
This pivotal moment in history not only solidified his legacy but also brought attention to the name Zola in cultural discussions. In addition to its literary connections, the name Zola carries symbolic weight in various cultures.
It embodies qualities of peace and stability, resonating with parents seeking names that reflect a sense of calmness and strength. The name's simplicity and elegance contribute to its enduring appeal across different cultures.
While diminutive forms or variations may exist, the name Zola stands strong in its own right, representing a blend of cultural significance and historical depth.
Famous people named Zola
In this section, you will find notable people named Zola. 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 Zola who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Zola 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.
Zola Budd is a former middle-distance runner best known for her participation in the 1984 Olympics and her world record in the 5000 meters.
Fictional characters named Zola
The following list of fictional characters named Zola 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.
Zola is a fictional character from the Marvel Comics universe. She is a skilled scientist and ally of Captain America, known for her contributions to the fight against Hydra.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Zola, 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 Zola. 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 Zola was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Zola has ranked as high as #1103 nationally, which occurred in 2018, and has been most popular in Kentucky, California, North Carolina, Missouri, and Illinois.
In the past 5 years the name Zola has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Zola 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 Zola was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Zola (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 |
|---|---|---|
| NY | 18 | |
| NC | 14 | |
| GA | 12 | |
| OH | 12 | |
| CA | 11 | |
| FL | 10 | |
| IL | 10 | |
| PA | 10 | |
| SC | 9 | |
| LA | 9 | |
| TX | 8 | |
| MO | 6 | |
| NJ | 6 | |
| VA | 5 | |
| CO | 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 Zola.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 221 |
| 2023 | 219 |
| 2022 | 250 |
| 2021 | 265 |
| 2020 | 277 |
| 2019 | 266 |
| 2018 | 277 |
| 2017 | 240 |
| 2016 | 186 |
| 2015 | 130 |
| 2014 | 127 |
| 2013 | 101 |
| 2012 | 96 |
| 2011 | 57 |
| 2010 | 44 |
| 2009 | 50 |
| 2008 | 48 |
| 2007 | 46 |
| 2006 | 54 |
| 2005 | 35 |
| 2004 | 24 |
| 2003 | 31 |
| 2002 | 18 |
| 2001 | 28 |
| 2000 | 26 |
| 1999 | 21 |
| 1998 | 10 |
| 1997 | 6 |
| 1996 | 9 |
| 1995 | 7 |
| 1994 | 15 |
| 1993 | 8 |
| 1992 | 5 |
| 1991 | 9 |
| 1989 | 8 |
| 1988 | 5 |
| 1987 | 5 |
| 1986 | 8 |
| 1985 | 9 |
| 1983 | 6 |
| 1981 | 5 |
| 1980 | 5 |
| 1979 | 6 |
| 1978 | 13 |
| 1977 | 7 |
| 1976 | 6 |
| 1975 | 7 |
| 1974 | 10 |
| 1973 | 11 |
| 1972 | 10 |
| 1971 | 15 |
| 1970 | 15 |
| 1969 | 9 |
| 1968 | 11 |
| 1967 | 12 |
| 1966 | 15 |
| 1965 | 16 |
| 1964 | 9 |
| 1963 | 12 |
| 1962 | 19 |
| 1961 | 24 |
| 1960 | 22 |
| 1959 | 42 |
| 1958 | 25 |
| 1957 | 27 |
| 1956 | 44 |
| 1955 | 36 |
| 1954 | 42 |
| 1953 | 36 |
| 1952 | 33 |
| 1951 | 32 |
| 1950 | 31 |
| 1949 | 57 |
| 1948 | 39 |
| 1947 | 49 |
| 1946 | 42 |
| 1945 | 38 |
| 1944 | 54 |
| 1943 | 63 |
| 1942 | 46 |
| 1941 | 65 |
| 1940 | 61 |
| 1939 | 76 |
| 1938 | 74 |
| 1937 | 85 |
| 1936 | 53 |
| 1935 | 54 |
| 1934 | 109 |
| 1933 | 94 |
| 1932 | 74 |
| 1931 | 82 |
| 1930 | 111 |
| 1929 | 119 |
| 1928 | 129 |
| 1927 | 116 |
| 1926 | 124 |
| 1925 | 154 |
| 1924 | 184 |
| 1923 | 145 |
| 1922 | 171 |
| 1921 | 171 |
| 1920 | 180 |
| 1919 | 172 |
| 1918 | 176 |
| 1917 | 137 |
| 1916 | 167 |
| 1915 | 148 |
| 1914 | 101 |
| 1913 | 114 |
| 1912 | 113 |
| 1911 | 78 |
| 1910 | 79 |
| 1909 | 59 |
| 1908 | 70 |
| 1907 | 53 |
| 1906 | 59 |
| 1905 | 66 |
| 1904 | 46 |
| 1903 | 64 |
| 1902 | 58 |
| 1901 | 56 |
| 1900 | 48 |
| 1899 | 49 |
| 1898 | 62 |
| 1897 | 51 |
| 1896 | 47 |
| 1895 | 60 |
| 1894 | 51 |
| 1893 | 34 |
| 1892 | 27 |
| 1891 | 29 |
| 1890 | 32 |
| 1889 | 22 |
| 1888 | 23 |
| 1887 | 23 |
| 1886 | 8 |
| 1885 | 12 |
| 1884 | 14 |
| 1883 | 10 |
| 1882 | 9 |
| 1881 | 10 |
| 1880 | 7 |