Zola
How to say it: ZOH-luh · /ˈzoʊlə/
From Zulu meaning 'tranquil, calm'; also an Italian surname (Émile Zola) and possibly from African origins meaning quiet.
Zola was the 1,108th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 167 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1900s, its births are up about 27% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #1,315 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #1,108 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 167 |
| Share of births | 1 in 19,852 |
| Peak decade | 1900s |
| Change over 10 years | +27% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #1,315 |
| In France, 2025 | #625 among girls’ names, 55 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Nearly gone by the 1980s, Zola has returned to near its high from the 1900s. A slight easing seems probable from here.
What goes with it
Soft and airy in a pair of soft pulses, Zola feels literary and easy to carry across languages. Zara pairs well alongside it.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Zola is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French, Italian.
In France: #625 for girls in 2025.
Famous people named Zola
- Zola Budd (born 1966)South African competitive runner
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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