Zendaya

Q: What is the origin of Zendaya?

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

Q: Is Zendaya a girl name?

Zendaya 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

"To Give Thanks"

Zendaya is associated with Shona-derived gratitude semantics and gained prominence through contemporary American naming practices.

Themes:thanksshonamodernfeminine

Fact-checked by Grace Royal

M.A. Linguistics, Columbia UniversityCertified Naming Consultant15+ Years Experience • Editor-in-Chief

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

Popularity History of Zendaya

Full SSA rank history from 1880 to 2024

#942Top 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

#942

Zendaya was nationally ranked in 2024.

Change Vs Previous Year

-109

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

Zendaya Nicknames

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

10 ideas

Zenie

Nickname

Zend

Nickname

zeny

Nickname

zend

Nickname

zie

Nickname

daya

Nickname

“Grace and Favor”

#7975

|Modern American

Baby Name Lists That Include Zendaya

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

13 linked lists

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Zendaya mean?

Zendaya means "To Give Thanks". Zendaya is associated with Shona-derived gratitude semantics and gained prominence through contemporary American naming

What is the origin of Zendaya?

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

How popular is the name Zendaya?

According to the latest SSA data, Zendaya is currently ranked #942 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 Zendaya a girl name?

Zendaya 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 Zendaya?

Popular nicknames for Zendaya include Zenie, Zend, zeny, zend, and more. These offer shorter, more casual alternatives for everyday use.

What names are similar to Zendaya?

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

Quick Facts

OriginShona, Modern American

Syllables2

Length7 letters

US Rank#942

Trend↓ Falling

Starts withZ

Sibling Ideas

Brothers

Bomani Dakarai Sekani Sekai Alvin

Sisters

Jendayi Nyasha Sekani Sekai Tawanda

Explore More Girl Names Like Zendaya

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

Zendaya appears in several of our curated collections. Check out Last Names That Mean Sun and Names That Mean The Sun for Boys and Girls for more names with a similar feel. You might also enjoy browsing Names That Mean Miracle And Blessing for Boys and Girls and Names That Mean Travel And Adventure for Boys and Girls.

Before you decide, try our Full Name Preview to see how Zendaya pairs with your surname. The Sibling Name Matcher can help find names that complement Zendaya 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.