Home β€Ί Baby Names Directory β€Ί Zella

Zella

♀ Girl

Pronounced ZEL-uh /ˈzΙ›.lΙ™/Medium

Meaning: Invented English name that arose in the 19th century; no established lexical meaningMedium

In 30 seconds: Zella is an invented English name that appeared in the 1800s, with no settled dictionary meaning.
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Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningInvented English name that arose in the 19th century; no established lexical meaning
U.S. rank (2024)#1858 β†˜ Falling
2024 U.S. births108 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1917
Total births (all-time)β‰ˆ 13,250

Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data

peak 191718802024

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

History & Origin

Zella is a coined English name that arose in the 19th century and never carried a fixed lexical meaning. It belongs to the wave of decorative, melodic names that flourished in that era, often built for sound rather than definition. Its appeal lies in its style rather than any translatable sense.

The bold 'z' opening and soft -ella ending give it a vintage yet striking sound. The American singer Zella Day is a contemporary bearer.

Did you know? Zella is an invented 19th-century coinage with no established lexical meaning, so its appeal comes from its bright, compact sound; popular sources sometimes link it to Zelda ('blessed'), though that is a folk association rather than its true origin.
Overall data confidence 70%
Behind the Name - Zella 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˜…Zella Day (b. 1995)
    American singer and songwriter known for the single 'Hypnotic' and her 2015 album Kicker.

If you like Zella…

Stellaβ€” Shares Zella's -ella ending and vintage feel
Dellaβ€” Another short -ella name from the same older English wave
Zeldaβ€” A similar coined-sounding name with the striking Z- opening

Frequently Asked

What does the name Zella mean?

Zella is an invented English feminine name that arose in the 19th century, with no established lexical meaning. Popular sources sometimes link it to Zelda ('blessed'), but that is a folk association rather than its actual origin; it is best classed as an invented coinage and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Zella?

It's commonly said ZEL-uh /ˈzΙ›l.lΓ¦/.

Is Zella a boy or girl name?

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

How popular is Zella?

In 2024, Zella ranked #1858 in the U.S. for girls, with 108 births recorded.