Zella
How to say it: ZEL-uh · /ˈzɛlə/
German short form of Marcella (Latin 'warlike') - used independently in the US since the 19th century.
Zella was the 1,358th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 117 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1890s, its births are down about 25% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #1,606 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #1,358 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 117 |
| Share of births | 1 in 28,336 |
| Peak decade | 1890s |
| Change over 10 years | −25% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #1,606 |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Zella peaked in the 1890s.
What goes with it
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Zella is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, German.
Famous people named Zella
- Zella Day (born 1995)American singer-songwriter
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Keep exploring
About as popular as Zella
Find names you'll both love, starting with Zella
The one-minute style quiz.