Zela: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	8	1	–	#1,024
1890s	44	4	+450%	#980
1900s	60	6	+36%	#1,320
1910s	142	14	+137%	#1,448
1920s	135	14	-5%	#2,061
1930s	57	6	-58%	#2,564
1940s	37	4	-35%	#3,442
1950s	5	1	-86%	#7,011
1960s	–	–	–	–
1970s	–	–	–	–
1980s	–	–	–	–
1990s	–	–	–	–
2000s	7	1	–	#15,385
2010s	57	6	+714%	#9,727
2020s (to 2025)	57	10	+67%	#8,020

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

#1,024

1890s

+450%

#980

1900s

+36%

#1,320

1910s

142

+137%

#1,448

1920s

135

-5%

#2,061

1930s

-58%

#2,564

1940s

-35%

#3,442

1950s

-86%

#7,011

1960s

–

1970s

–

1980s

–

1990s

–

2000s

–

#15,385

2010s

+714%

#9,727

2020s (to 2025)

+67%

#8,020

The story of Zela

Zela is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #8,852 in 2025 with 12 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1889, 609 American babies have been named Zela. Its peak came in 1916, when 21 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1910s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Zela stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Zela?

The median living Zela is about 8 years old; half are between 4 and 68. An estimated 200 people named Zela are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Zela year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	12	#8,852
2024	6	#15,268
2023	6	#15,172
2022	11	#9,668
2021	14	#8,020
2020	8	#12,124
2019	11	#9,727
2018	11	#9,801
2017	9	#11,602
2016	5	#18,835
2015	5	#19,077
2014	–	–
2013	10	#10,990
2012	6	#16,830
2011	–	–
2010	–	–
2009	–	–
2008	7	#15,385
2007	–	–
2006	–	–
2005	–	–
2004	–	–
2003	–	–
2002	–	–
2001	–	–
2000	–	–
1995	–	–
1990	–	–
1985	–	–
1980	–	–
1975	–	–
1970	–	–
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	8	#3,501
1935	6	#4,201
1930	8	#3,654
1925	10	#3,361
1920	13	#2,729
1915	18	#1,882
1910	8	#1,933
1905	–	–
1900	5	#2,219
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Zela, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Zela?

The median living Zela is about 8 years old. Half of all living Zelas are between 4 and 68 years old.

How many people named Zela are alive today?

An estimated 200 people named Zela are alive in the United States, based on 609 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Zela in 2025?

Zela ranked #8,852 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 12 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Zela?

609 babies have been named Zela in the United States since 1889, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Zela most popular?

Zela peaked in 1916, when 21 newborns received the name.

Is Zela a boy or girl name?

Zela is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Zela rising or falling?

Zela is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Zela

Zela popularity over time

The story of Zela

How old are people named Zela?

Zela year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Zela