Zell: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

–

among girls

Babies in 2025

named Zell

How common

–

girls born in 2025

Peak year

1925

29 babies

All-time total

583

#14,166 all-time among girls

First recorded

1898

in Social Security records

Zell popularity over time

583 babies have been named Zell since 1898, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

GirlsBoys

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	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	5	–	5	1	–	#1,974
1900s	58	–	58	6	+1060%	#1,237
1910s	119	46	165	17	+184%	#1,476
1920s	118	38	156	16	-5%	#1,945
1930s	48	14	62	6	-60%	#3,224
1940s	5	33	38	4	-39%	#5,684
1950s	17	5	22	2	-42%	#5,405
1960s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1970s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1980s	–	5	5	1	–	–
1990s	–	–	–	–	–	–
2000s	–	22	22	2	–	–
2010s	–	40	40	4	+82%	–
2020s (to 2025)	–	10	10	2	-58%	–

The story of Zell

Zell is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1898, 583 American babies have been named Zell, about 63% girls and 37% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1925, when 29 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1920s.

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 Zell stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Zell?

The median living Zell is about 24 years old; half are between 12 and 78. An estimated 100 people named Zell 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.

Zell year by year

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

Year	Girls	Girls rank	Boys	Boys rank
2025	–	–	–	–
2024	–	–	–	–
2023	–	–	5	#14,185
2022	–	–	–	–
2021	–	–	–	–
2020	–	–	5	#14,032
2019	–	–	5	#14,110
2018	–	–	5	#14,087
2017	–	–	–	–
2016	–	–	–	–
2015	–	–	9	#8,732
2014	–	–	–	–
2013	–	–	10	#8,114
2012	–	–	6	#12,261
2011	–	–	5	#14,339
2010	–	–	–	–
2009	–	–	5	#14,516
2008	–	–	–	–
2007	–	–	5	#14,377
2006	–	–	–	–
2005	–	–	–	–
2004	–	–	–	–
2003	–	–	–	–
2002	–	–	5	#12,478
2001	–	–	7	#9,238
2000	–	–	–	–
1995	–	–	–	–
1990	–	–	–	–
1985	–	–	–	–
1980	–	–	5	#7,290
1975	–	–	–	–
1970	–	–	–	–
1965	–	–	–	–
1960	–	–	–	–
1955	5	#6,727	5	#4,399
1950	5	#6,105	–	–
1945	–	–	–	–
1940	–	–	–	–
1935	7	#3,741	–	–
1930	5	#5,244	–	–
1925	21	#1,945	8	#3,407
1920	12	#2,898	–	–
1915	10	#2,899	8	#3,081
1910	7	#2,137	–	–
1905	11	#1,237	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Famous people named Zell

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Zell Miller American politician (1932–2018) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Zell?

The median living Zell is about 24 years old. Half of all living Zells are between 12 and 78 years old.

How many people named Zell are alive today?

An estimated 100 people named Zell are alive in the United States, based on 583 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Zell in 2025?

Zell did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Zell?

583 babies have been named Zell in the United States since 1898, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Zell most popular?

Zell peaked in 1925, when 29 newborns received the name.

Is Zell a boy or girl name?

Zell is used for both: about 63% of babies named Zell have been girls and 37% boys.

Is the name Zell rising or falling?

Zell has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Zell?

Well-known people named Zell include Zell Miller (politician).

Names like Zell

Names that sound and feel close to Zell: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Zell with similar names → More names starting with Z →