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Home › Baby Names Directory › Zendaya

Zendaya

♀ Girl

Pronounced zen-DAY-uh /zɛnˈdeɪ.ə/High

Meaning: To give thanks; from Shona (Zimbabwe) zendaya — the root zenda means to be thankful or gratefulMedium

In 30 seconds: A Shona-origin name from Zimbabwe, believed to mean 'to give thanks.' It became a household name through actress and singer Zendaya Coleman, who goes by her first name professionally.
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Origin MediumShona
MeaningTo give thanks; from Shona (Zimbabwe) zendaya — the root zenda means to be thankful or grateful
U.S. rank (2024)#942 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births279 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2022
Total births (all-time)≈ 3,672

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202220112024

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

Zendaya is from Shona, a Bantu language spoken in Zimbabwe, where the root zenda is associated with gratitude or giving thanks. Like many Shona names, it carries a meaning with positive spiritual connotations. Exact etymological documentation in English-language sources is limited.

Zendaya entered American cultural awareness through actress and singer Zendaya Coleman, born in 1996 in Oakland, California. The name registered in U.S. birth data significantly after her fame rose with Disney Channel's Shake It Up (2010) and later Euphoria (2019). It ranked #942 for girls in 2024.

Did you know? Zendaya Coleman's mother is of European descent and her father is African American, with roots in Zimbabwe — it is from her paternal family's Shona heritage that the name comes.
Overall data confidence 78%
U.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

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Nicknames

ZenZeniDaya

Famous Bearers

  • ★Zendaya Coleman (1996–present)
    American actress and singer, known for Euphoria, Spider-Man, and Dune. She performs professionally under the single name Zendaya.

If you like Zendaya…

Amara— African-origin name with a similar three-syllable, vowel-forward feel
Zola— Zulu/African origin name with the same Z-opening and African heritage
Zahara— African/Hebrew name with the same Z-start and rhythmic character
Tamara— three-syllable name ending in -uh in the same melodic register

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Zendaya mean?

Zendaya is believed to mean 'to give thanks' or 'to be grateful,' from Shona, a Bantu language of Zimbabwe. The exact etymology has limited documentation in English sources.

How do you pronounce Zendaya?

It's said zen-DAY-uh — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Zendaya a boy or girl name?

Zendaya is used as a girls' name.

How popular is Zendaya?

Zendaya ranked #942 for U.S. girls in 2024.

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