Zuleika Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: zoo-LAY-kah /zuːˈleɪkə/
Origin: Arabic; Persian
Meaning: Arabic: 'fair; lovely'; Persian: 'beautiful'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Zuleika has its roots in Arabic, derived from the name "Zuleikha," which is believed to mean "brilliant" or "beautiful." The name is often associated with the biblical figure Potiphar's wife, who is referred to as Zuleikha in Islamic tradition. This connection to a significant narrative in both Jewish and Islamic texts highlights the name's historical depth and cultural significance.
The name made its way into Persian literature, particularly in the 12th century, where it was popularized through the story of "Yusuf and Zuleikha," a romantic tale that has been retold in various forms across different cultures. In the 19th century, Zuleika gained further prominence in Western literature, particularly through the works of British authors.
One notable example is the 1894 novel "Zuleika Dobson" by Max Beerbohm, which satirizes Edwardian society and has contributed to the name's literary legacy. This novel, along with other artistic representations, helped to cement Zuleika as a name associated with beauty and allure, often embodying themes of unattainable love and tragic romance.
Culturally, Zuleika has been embraced in various artistic expressions, including poetry and music, often symbolizing exoticism and the allure of the East. The name's melodic quality and rich historical associations have allowed it to resonate across different cultures and eras.
While diminutive forms such as Zuly may exist, the name Zuleika itself carries a weight of historical and cultural significance that transcends its usage in contemporary contexts.
Famous people named Zuleika
In this section, you will find notable people named Zuleika. 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 Zuleika who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Zuleika 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.
Zuleika Dobson is a fictional character best known for the novel Zuleika Dobson by Max Beerbohm.
Fictional characters named Zuleika
The following list of fictional characters named Zuleika 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.
Zuleika Dobson is a fictional character from the novel Zuleika Dobson by Max Beerbohm. She is a beautiful and enchanting woman who captivates the men at Oxford University, leading to a series of tragic and comedic events.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Zuleika, 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 Zuleika. 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 Zuleika was first seen in the United States in 1967.
Zuleika has ranked as high as #1334 nationally, which occurred in 2007, and has been most popular in California, New York, Texas, New Jersey, and Arizona.
In the past 5 years the name Zuleika has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Zuleika 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 Zuleika was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Zuleika (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 | 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 Zuleika.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 17 |
| 2023 | 19 |
| 2022 | 14 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2019 | 15 |
| 2018 | 17 |
| 2017 | 25 |
| 2016 | 25 |
| 2015 | 21 |
| 2014 | 40 |
| 2013 | 19 |
| 2012 | 16 |
| 2011 | 27 |
| 2010 | 30 |
| 2009 | 32 |
| 2008 | 39 |
| 2007 | 54 |
| 2006 | 41 |
| 2005 | 18 |
| 2004 | 23 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2002 | 15 |
| 2001 | 12 |
| 2000 | 17 |
| 1999 | 11 |
| 1998 | 11 |
| 1997 | 17 |
| 1996 | 27 |
| 1995 | 21 |
| 1994 | 31 |
| 1993 | 53 |
| 1992 | 36 |
| 1991 | 42 |
| 1990 | 33 |
| 1989 | 25 |
| 1988 | 28 |
| 1987 | 31 |
| 1986 | 12 |
| 1985 | 8 |
| 1984 | 14 |
| 1983 | 7 |
| 1982 | 13 |
| 1981 | 18 |
| 1980 | 16 |
| 1979 | 19 |
| 1978 | 24 |
| 1977 | 28 |
| 1976 | 26 |
| 1975 | 20 |
| 1974 | 16 |
| 1973 | 14 |
| 1972 | 8 |
| 1971 | 11 |
| 1970 | 11 |
| 1969 | 7 |
| 1967 | 6 |