Zola
Girl name · #1334 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Zola? In official American birth records, Zola has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Zola is currently the #1334 girl name in the United States — 167 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1643, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 10,778 girls born in 2025 was named Zola.
The 145-year story
Zola first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 7 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2018, when 278 girls were named Zola — good for #953 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. 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 Zola per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Zola against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Zola in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Zola is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Zola will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Zola is most common
Geography matters for names, and Zola is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Zola is most common in NC (0.3 per 1,000), GA (0.2 per 1,000), NY (0.1 per 1,000), FL (0.1 per 1,000), TX (0.1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.1 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Zola is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Zola
Statistically, parents drawn to Zola tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Nola, Zayla, Zaya, Zyla, and Zora.
NolaZaylaZayaZylaZoraEilaNalaZiya
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Zola | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 167 | #1334 |
| 2024 | 222 | #1103 |
| 2023 | 219 | #1120 |
| 2022 | 250 | #1026 |
| 2021 | 265 | #979 |
| 2020 | 277 | #932 |
| 2019 | 266 | #975 |
| 2018 | 278 | #953 |
| 2017 | 240 | #1067 |
| 2016 | 186 | #1291 |
| 2015 | 130 | #1643 |
| 2014 | 127 | #1665 |
| 2013 | 101 | #1953 |
| 2012 | 96 | #2016 |
| 2011 | 57 | #2989 |
| 2010 | 44 | #3572 |
| 2009 | 50 | #3298 |
| 2008 | 48 | #3420 |
| 2007 | 46 | #3531 |
| 2006 | 54 | #3090 |
| 2005 | 35 | #4029 |
| 2004 | 24 | #5208 |
| 2003 | 31 | #4220 |
| 2002 | 18 | #6129 |
| 2001 | 28 | #4321 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Zola?
In official American birth records, the name Zola first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 7 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Zola a popular girl name?
Zola ranked #1334 among girls in 2025 with 167 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1643.
When was the name Zola most popular?
Zola peaked in 2018, when 278 American girls received the name (ranked #953 that year). Since 2018 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Zola?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 10,778 newborn American girls was named Zola. 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.