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👍 Zelig
♂ Boy
How to Pronounce Zelig
Pronounced ZEH-lig
🔊 Hear it /ˈzɛ.lɪɡ/ Medium ⧉ copy
Meaning: From Yiddish zelig (German selig), 'blessed; happy; fortunate; holy' Low ⧉ copy
In 30 seconds: Blessed; happy; holy: Zelig is Yiddish. Crisp, classic, and warm (said 'ZEH-lig').
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Meaning From Yiddish zelig (German selig), 'blessed; happy; fortunate; holy'
U.S. rank (2025) #8900 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births 9 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year 2019
Total births (all-time) ≈ 181
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Shop mom essentials Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data peak 2021 1995 2025 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 Zelig comes from Yiddish zelig (German selig ), 'blessed; happy; fortunate; holy'. A crisp, classic name common in Orthodox Jewish families (said 'ZEH-lig').
In the U.S. it appears in Jewish families. Rare, blessed-and-happy at the root, and classic.
Did you know? Zelig means 'blessed; happy; fortunate; holy' in Yiddish (from German selig) — a crisp, classic name (made known by Woody Allen's film Zelig; said 'ZEH-lig').
Overall data confidence 44%
References — Zelig — Yiddish etymology
Variations Selig Zeligh Zelik
Nicknames —
Famous Bearers Famous bearers coming soon. If you like Zelig… Mendel — a sound-neighbor Yiddish boys' name Zalmen — lands in the same popularity range Zalman — a fellow Yiddish choice Zaide — another Yiddish name Dovid — a fellow Yiddish choice Frequently Asked What does the name Zelig mean? Zelig is Yiddish for 'blessed; happy; fortunate; holy'.
How do you pronounce Zelig? It's said ZEH-lig /ˈzɛ.lɪɡ/ — two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Zelig a boy or girl name? Zelig is a boy's name.
How popular is Zelig? Zelig is a rare name in the U.S.
