Home β€Ί Baby Names Directory β€Ί Zelie

Zelie

♀ Girl

Pronounced ZEHL-ee /ˈzΙ›l.i/Low

Meaning: Noble (short form of Azelie/Adelaide)Low

In 30 seconds: Zelie is a French girl's name meaning 'noble', a short form of Azelie or Adelaide.
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Origin LowFrench
MeaningNoble (short form of Azelie/Adelaide)
U.S. rank (2024)#1836 β†˜ Falling
2024 U.S. births110 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2021
Total births (all-time)β‰ˆ 1,142

Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data

peak 202120022024

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

History & Origin

The 'noble' meaning comes through Azelie and Adelaide, of which Zelie is a trimmed, French short form. Clipping the longer name leaves something crisp and graceful while keeping the noble sense intact. It carries a distinctly French sound.

Zelie's bright 'Z' opening and soft '-elie' ending give it a delicate, vintage charm. It is closely tied to Zelie Martin, the French saint and mother of Therese of Lisieux, canonized in 2015.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Zelie is 'noble', traced through Azelie to the Germanic Adelaide, and the name was borne by Saint Zelie Martin, which adds to its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 55%
Behind the Name - Zelie β€” etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration β€” 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • β˜…Zelie Martin (Saint Marie-Azelie Martin) (1831-1877)
    French lacemaker and Catholic saint, mother of Saint Therese of Lisieux; canonized with her husband Louis in 2015.

If you like Zelie…

Adelaideβ€” The other source of Zelie's 'noble' sense, a longer relative.
Amelieβ€” Shares Zelie's French sound and the soft '-elie' ending.
Zoeβ€” Another short French-feeling girl's name opening on the bright 'Z'.

Frequently Asked

What does the name Zelie mean?

Zelie is a French short form of Azelie, ultimately from the Germanic Adelaide/Adalheidis, meaning 'noble'. It was borne by Saint Zelie Martin and is most often linked with French tradition.

How do you pronounce Zelie?

It's commonly said ZEHL-ee /ˈzΙ›l.i/.

Is Zelie a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Zelie is used as a girl name.

How popular is Zelie?

In 2024, Zelie ranked #1836 in the U.S. for girls, with 110 births recorded.