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Home › Baby Names Directory › Zelaya

Zelaya

♀ Girl

Pronounced zeh-LY-ah /zɛˈlaɪ.ə/Medium

Meaning: From the Spanish/Basque surname Zelaya (Celaya), from the Basque zelai, 'field; meadow; open plain.' Now used as a given name; it carries a soft, landscape meaning.Low

In 30 seconds: A surname turned given name: Zelaya means 'open field; meadow' by its Basque root (said 'zeh-LY-ah'). Earthy and elegant.
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Origin MediumSpanish, Basque
MeaningFrom the Spanish/Basque surname Zelaya (Celaya), from the Basque zelai, 'field; meadow; open plain.' Now used as a given name; it carries a soft, landscape meaning.
U.S. rank (2025)#6110 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births20 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2025
Total births (all-time)≈ 125

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202520082025

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Zelaya (also Celaya) is a Basque-origin surname meaning 'open field; meadow; plain,' long carried across Spanish-speaking regions. As a given name it reads earthy and elegant — rare in the U.S. (said 'zeh-LY-ah').

It appears rarely as a first name, more familiar as a surname. Rare, earthy, and elegant.

Did you know? Zelaya is a Spanish and Basque surname from zelai, 'field; meadow' — now worn as a first name, carrying a soft, open-landscape feel (said 'zeh-LY-ah').
Overall data confidence 48%
References — Zelaya — Basque surname; zelai 'field; meadow'

Variations

CelayaZelaiaZelay

Nicknames

ZelaLaya

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Zelaya…

Anaya— a like -aya surname-name
Amaya— a like Basque -aya name
Soraya— a like flowing -aya pick
Amaiya— shares Zelaya's Basque roots
Zenaida— another Spanish name

Explore names like Zelaya

By themenaturesurnameelegantbasque

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Zelaya mean?

Zelaya is a Spanish/Basque surname from zelai, 'field; meadow; open plain,' now used as a given name.

How do you pronounce Zelaya?

It's said zeh-LY-ah /zɛˈlaɪ.ə/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Zelaya a boy or girl name?

Zelaya is used here as a girl's name; it began as a surname.

How popular is Zelaya?

Zelaya is a rare given name in the U.S.

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