Zelda

♀ Girl

Pronounced ZEL-duh /ˈzɛl.də/High

Meaning: Short form of the Old High German Griselda, composed of gris (gray) and hild (battle), meaning 'gray battle-maid'; also used in Yiddish as a form of Selda, meaning 'blessed' or 'happy'Medium

In 30 seconds: Zelda is a snappy, vintage-revival name meaning gray battle-maid or blessed, rooted in Old High German and Yiddish. From Zelda Fitzgerald to The Legend of Zelda, it carries literary panache and gaming legend.

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Origin MediumOld High German, Yiddish

MeaningShort form of the Old High German Griselda, composed of gris (gray) and hild (battle), meaning 'gray battle-maid'; also used in Yiddish as a form of Selda, meaning 'blessed' or 'happy'

U.S. rank (2025)#832 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births328 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2020

Total births (all-time)≈ 16,734

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Zelda functions as a short form of Griselda, from Old High German grisja hild — combining gris (gray) and hild (battle), meaning 'gray battle-maid'. Griselda was the patient, long-suffering heroine of tales by Boccaccio and Chaucer. Zelda also has a parallel Yiddish tradition as a form of the name Selda, meaning 'blessed' or 'happy'.

Zelda Fitzgerald (1900–1948), the glamorous wife of novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald and a writer in her own right, gave the name its Jazz Age literary prestige. The name fell out of common use mid-century before being spectacularly revived by Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda franchise (1986–present) and a wave of vintage-name enthusiasm in the 2010s. It now ranks solidly among resurgent classic names.

Did you know? Nintendo's iconic video game The Legend of Zelda (1986) was named by creator Shigeru Miyamoto in honor of American novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald's wife Zelda Fitzgerald — connecting gaming culture directly to the Jazz Age literary world.

Overall data confidence 83%

Behind the Name — Zelda — Old High German and Yiddish etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

SeldaZellaZeldie

Nicknames

ZellZee

Famous Bearers

★Zelda Fitzgerald (1900–1948)
American novelist, socialite, and iconic figure of the Jazz Age; wife of F. Scott Fitzgerald.

If you like Zelda…

Willa— same vintage-revival two-syllable charm with a strong Z/W initial

Mabel— shares the Jazz Age feel and the vintage-comeback quality

Hazel— fellow two-syllable vintage name enjoying strong modern revival

Esther— same category of old-fashioned names returned to fashionable status

Frequently Asked

What does the name Zelda mean?

Zelda means gray battle-maid as a short form of Griselda, and blessed or happy in Yiddish tradition.

How do you pronounce Zelda?

It is said ZEL-duh, with two syllables.

Is Zelda named after the video game?

The video game was actually named after Zelda Fitzgerald; the name predates the game by eight decades.

Is Zelda a popular name?

Zelda is experiencing a strong revival in the 2010s and 2020s, ranking in the top 500 U.S. girls names.