Zelda

Q: What is the origin of Zelda?

Zelda is of German origin. The name carries significant cultural meaning and has been used across generations within its origin tradition.

Q: Is Zelda a girl name?

Zelda is traditionally a girl name. Modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal choice and cultural context.

female

Updated 7 months ago

Meaning

"Blessed; Happy"

Often treated as a diminutive of longer Germanic names, it later stabilized as an independent given name in English usage.

Themes:blessedjoyshortformheritage

Fact-checked by Dr. Elena Vasquez

Ph.D. Medieval History, StanfordPublished Academic ResearcherHistory Professor (Adjunct) • Historical Names Consultant

This name has been verified against authoritative sources including SSA data, etymology databases, and cultural naming traditions.

Popularity History of Zelda

Full SSA rank history from 1880 to 2024

#748Top 1000

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Yearly Ranking Snapshot

Pick any SSA release year to inspect that year's national ranking and how it changed from the year before.

Year

Selected Year Rank

#748

Zelda was nationally ranked in 2024.

Change Vs Previous Year

-44

lower than 2023

Data Source

Popularity rankings are based on official data from the Social Security Administration (SSA), which tracks baby name applications in the United States.

Last updated: 2024 • Data source updated annually

Zelda Nicknames

Familiar short forms, playful variations, and easy everyday options for Zelda.

10 ideas

Zel

Nickname

Zee

Nickname

zely

Nickname

zeld

Nickname

zie

Nickname

elda

Nickname

“Grace”

#3266

|Slavic

Baby Name Lists That Include Zelda

Browse every Namylab list page that currently includes Zelda, from meaning and origin collections to letter, syllable, and themed baby name lists.

13 linked lists

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Zelda mean?

Zelda means "Blessed; Happy". Often treated as a diminutive of longer Germanic names, it later stabilized as an independent given name in English usag

What is the origin of Zelda?

Zelda is of German origin. The name has been used historically across cultures and carries significant cultural meaning within its origin tradition.

How popular is the name Zelda?

According to the latest SSA data, Zelda is currently ranked #748 in the United States. The name has shown interesting trends over the past century, with popularity varying based on cultural preferences and naming trends.

Is Zelda a girl name?

Zelda is traditionally a girl name. However, modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal preference.

What are good nicknames for Zelda?

Popular nicknames for Zelda include Zel, Zee, zely, zeld, and more. These offer shorter, more casual alternatives for everyday use.

What names are similar to Zelda?

There are many names similar to Zelda in meaning, origin, or sound. Explore the Similar Names section to discover alternatives that may resonate with you.

Quick Facts

OriginGerman, Yiddish

Syllables2

Length5 letters

US Rank#748

Trend↓ Falling

Starts withZ

Sibling Ideas

Brothers

Adler Dereck Kaiser Krue Alois

Sisters

Adele Greta Halle Vienna Annalise

Explore More Girl Names Like Zelda

Zelda has German roots, making it a wonderful choice if you love names from this heritage. Discover more options in our German baby names collection, where you'll find hundreds of names with similar cultural depth.

Zelda appears in several of our curated collections. Check out Names That Mean Joy and Names That Mean Child Of God for Boys and Girls for more names with a similar feel. You might also enjoy browsing Names That Mean The End for Boys and Girls and German Baby Names.

Before you decide, try our Full Name Preview to see how Zelda pairs with your surname. The Sibling Name Matcher can help find names that complement Zelda beautifully, and the Nickname Predictor reveals the most common short forms.

Explore our full baby name lists for origin-based, meaning-based, and themed collections, or head back to the baby name generator to continue your search.