Zelda
Zelda is a girl's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Dark battle, gray fighting maid, or happy and blessed.
Origin and history
Zelda originated as a Yiddish short form of Griselda, meaning 'dark battle' or 'gray fighting maid', and also as a feminine Yiddish name associated with happiness or luck. It gained historical prominence through author F. Scott Fitzgerald's wife, Zelda Fitzgerald, and experienced a modern cultural resurgence in the late 20th century.
Popularity in the United States
16,734 babies in the United States have been named Zelda since 1880. It ranks #1185 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #666.
States where it is most popular
- NY (15 %)
- TX (10.5 %)
- CA (9.1 %)
- PA (7.6 %)
- IL (5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 62 |
| 1890-1900 | 254 |
| 1900-1910 | 595 |
| 1910-1920 | 1,854 |
| 1920-1930 | 2,376 |
| 1930-1940 | 1,650 |
| 1940-1950 | 1,074 |
| 1950-1960 | 1,160 |
| 1960-1970 | 1,265 |
| 1970-1980 | 305 |
| 1980-1990 | 154 |
| 1990-2000 | 144 |
| 2000-2010 | 391 |
| 2010-2019 | 2,889 |
| 2020-2029 | 2,561 |
Famous people named Zelda
- Zelda Fitzgerald: Writer, Artist
- Zelda Williams: Actress, Director
- Zelda Sears: Screenwriter, Actress
Nicknames
Zell
Fun facts
- Zelda Fitzgerald, icon of the Roaring Twenties, was a famous novelist, dancer, and spouse of F. Scott Fitzgerald.
- Nintendo creator Shigeru Miyamoto named Princess Zelda in 'The Legend of Zelda' series after Zelda Fitzgerald.