Zilla

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Zilla

Pronounced ZIL-uh /ˈzɪl.ə/Medium

Meaning: Zilla is a biblical name from the Hebrew Tsillah, meaning 'shadow' or 'shade' - by extension 'protection.' In Genesis, Zillah is one of the wives of Lamech and the mother of Tubal-cain. It came into English-speaking use as a Puritan-era scripture name.Low

In 30 seconds: Zilla is a biblical name meaning 'shadow' or 'shade' (say it ZIL-uh). A quiet Genesis name from early America.

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Origin MediumHebrew

MeaningZilla is a biblical name from the Hebrew Tsillah, meaning 'shadow' or 'shade' - by extension 'protection.' In Genesis, Zillah is one of the wives of Lamech and the mother of Tubal-cain. It came into English-speaking use as a Puritan-era scripture name.

U.S. rank (1951)#4831 ↗ Rising

1951 U.S. births7 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1918

Total births (all-time)≈ 288

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

Zilla comes from the Hebrew Tsillah, 'shadow' or 'shade,' with a protective sense. In the book of Genesis, Zillah is a wife of Lamech and mother of Tubal-cain. English-speaking families took it up as a Bible name in earlier centuries, and in American records it stayed rare and old, most seen around the turn of the twentieth century before dwindling by mid-century.

A Zilla from its American heyday would belong to a great-grandmother's or earlier generation. Its short, striking two-beat sound sits beside Zella, Zora, and Zona - the vintage Z- girl names - and while Z-names are stylish again, this scriptural one has not truly revived.

Did you know? Zillah appears in one of the oldest genealogies in Genesis, as a wife of Lamech - which is how this short, shadowy name entered the Puritan Bible-name tradition.

Overall data confidence 50%

References - Zilla — Biblical Hebrew 'shadow'; Zillah in Genesis

Variations

ZillahZellaZilpah

Nicknames

ZilZizi

Famous Bearers

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If you like Zilla…

Zella— a like vintage Z- girl name in sound

Zora— another antique Z- name of the era

Zona— a same-period short Z- girl name

Zillah— the fuller biblical spelling of the name

Explore names like Zilla

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Zilla mean?

Zilla means 'shadow' or 'shade,' from the Hebrew Tsillah; in Genesis it is the name of a wife of Lamech.

How do you pronounce Zilla?

It is said ZIL-uh, two syllables with the stress on the first.

Is Zilla a boy or a girl name?

Zilla is a girl's name.

Is Zilla a popular name?

No. Zilla has always been rare, seen most around the turn of the twentieth century before fading.