Zella
Girl name · #1734 in 2025 · Uniqueness 69/100
Zella ranks #1734 among American girls' names as of 2025, with 117 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1464, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 15,385 girls born in 2025 was named Zella.
The 145-year story
Zella first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 31 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1917, when 298 girls were named Zella — good for #363 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Zella per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Zella against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Zella in class?
Zella scores 69 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. Rare names trade instant recognition for memorability; Zella sits firmly on that end of the spectrum.
Where Zella is most common
Geography matters for names, and Zella is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Zellas were CA (10), OH (9), TN (8), TX (8), PA (7). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Zella
Statistically, parents drawn to Zella tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Nella, Adella, Luella, Vella, and Novella.
NellaAdellaLuellaVellaNovellaRosellaLillaLovella
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Zella | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 117 | #1733 |
| 2024 | 109 | #1840 |
| 2023 | 131 | #1595 |
| 2022 | 156 | #1437 |
| 2021 | 183 | #1269 |
| 2020 | 124 | #1654 |
| 2019 | 162 | #1383 |
| 2018 | 166 | #1360 |
| 2017 | 160 | #1422 |
| 2016 | 156 | #1472 |
| 2015 | 157 | #1464 |
| 2014 | 84 | #2236 |
| 2013 | 102 | #1939 |
| 2012 | 92 | #2078 |
| 2011 | 90 | #2124 |
| 2010 | 71 | #2562 |
| 2009 | 60 | #2892 |
| 2008 | 53 | #3158 |
| 2007 | 48 | #3428 |
| 2006 | 40 | #3795 |
| 2005 | 35 | #4029 |
| 2004 | 34 | #4093 |
| 2003 | 17 | #6576 |
| 2002 | 15 | #7045 |
| 2001 | 16 | #6619 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Zella a popular girl name?
Zella ranked #1734 among girls in 2025 with 117 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1464.
When was the name Zella most popular?
Zella peaked in 1917, when 298 American girls received the name (ranked #363 that year). Since 1917 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Zella?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 15,385 newborn American girls was named Zella. It scores 69/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.