Zella
Girl name · #1734 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Zella? In official American birth records, Zella has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
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. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Zella against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Zella in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Zella is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Zella will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Zella is most common
State-level data for Zella is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
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
How old is the name Zella?
In official American birth records, the name Zella first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 31 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
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. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.