Zelda

Zelda is a girl's name of Portuguese origin. Its meaning is not recorded in the standard references we check — we would rather tell you that plainly than guess. In 2024 it was given to 376 girls in the United States.

Zelda at a glance

Gender
Girl name
Origin
Portuguese · English & American
Meaning
Not recorded in standard references
Pronunciation
/ˈzɛldə/

About the name Zelda

Zelda belongs to the Portuguese and English & American tradition. Its roots are documented, even though its precise meaning is not recorded in the standard references — an honest gap we prefer to a confident guess.

In the United States, Zelda first appears in Social Security records in 1880. It climbed to its best-ever rank of #376 in 1911, and in 2024 376 babies received the name — 16,406 in total since 1880. Those are the official counts, not estimates.

Zelda in US records

First recorded (US)
1880
Best US rank
#376 in 1911
Peak year
2020
Babies named Zelda in 2024
376
Total since 1880
16,406

Zelda in England & Wales records

First recorded (since 1996)
1997
Best rank
#735 in 2020
Babies named Zelda in 2025
38
Total since 1996
441

Similar names

More names from the Portuguese shelf:

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Zelda mean?

The meaning of Zelda is not recorded in the standard references we check. Rather than repeat an unsourced claim, we leave it open — its Portuguese origin is documented, but its exact meaning is not.

Is Zelda a boy or girl name?

Zelda is a girl name. In 2024, 376 babies received the name in the US.

What origin is the name Zelda?

Zelda comes from the Portuguese and English & American tradition.

How popular is the name Zelda?

Zelda first appears in US records in 1880. Its best-ever ranking was #376 in 1911, and 376 babies were given the name in 2024.

How do you pronounce Zelda?

Zelda is pronounced /ˈzɛldə/ (IPA).

Meaning and origin for this page were checked against this source. US popularity figures are from the Social Security Administration's public baby-names data. England & Wales figures are from the Office for National Statistics. If you spot an error, write to [email protected] — accuracy is the whole point of this site, and corrections are made fast.