Total births
609
Girls' name · since 1889
Zela
609 babies named Zela in U.S. Social Security records since 1889, with the highest year being 1916. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- #13514
- among girls today
- 609
- born since 1889
- 1910s
- peak decade
- 24%
- more common than other girls
609 babies have been named Zela since 1889, making it today's #13514 girls' name.
Zela has 609 recorded births among girls since 1889, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, ranked #13514 as of the latest data, more common than 24% of girls, busiest in the 1910s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1889 to 2025.
- #13514 among girls today
- 609 born since 1889
- 1910s peak decade
- 24% more common than other girls
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
Zela is currently the #13514 girls' name in America, more common than 24% of girls - 609 born since 1889, peaking in the 1910s.
- #13514
- among girls today
- 609
- born since 1889
- 1910s
- peak decade
- 24%
- more common than other girls
Zela vs. every other girls name in current SSA rankings
#13514
of 17,726 girls in use
More common than 24% of names given to girls today.
1910s
Peak decade
23% of everyone ever named Zela was born in this single decade.
1916
Single peak year
21 babies were named Zela in 1916 - its busiest year on record.
How Zela compares
609 Top 41% higher than 59% of 17,726 names currently given to girls
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked girls names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Zela's all-time total is 59% above the median girls name, and Olivia still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Zela | Median girls name (Emerly) | #1 girls name (Olivia) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 609 | 382 | 567,345 |
| Peak-year births | 21 | 48 | 19,840 |
Zela's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Zela's SSA record in two at 1926 and the more recent half accounts for 43% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 57%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1893, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1916 peak of 21, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Zela at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1916
Current rank
#13,514
Active since
1889
Zela popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1889–2025
- Peak year (1916)
- 21
- Annual births at peak, across 137 years of records
Zela by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1910s was Zela's strongest decade.
142 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 23% of all-time use.
Zela births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 8
1880s
8 births
- 1890s 44
1890s
44 births
- 1900s
1900s
60 births
- 1910s
1910s
142 births
- 1920s
1920s
135 births
- 1930s
1930s
57 births
- 1940s 37
1940s
37 births
- 1950s 5
1950s
5 births
- 2000s 7
2000s
7 births
- 2010s
2010s
57 births
- 2020s
2020s
57 births
What this shows Peak: 1910s at 142 births (23% of all-time use).
How Zela compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Zela's total volume
Zela vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Zela by state
Where Zela concentrates geographically, total births since 1889
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Texas | | 11 | 1.8% |
| #2 | West Virginia | | 11 | 1.8% |
Texas share of Zela's total US births 1.8%
Even split
11 of 609 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 2 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Zela? ▼
Since 1889, Social Security records show 609 babies named Zela. Today it holds rank #13514 among girls. Its busiest year on record was 1916, with 21 births.
When was Zela most popular? ▼
Zela was most popular in the 1910s decade with 142 total births. The single peak year was 1916.
Where is Zela most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Zela are Texas (11 births), West Virginia (11 births).
How long has the name Zela been used? ▼
Zela has been recorded in Social Security data since 1889, spanning 137 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Zela? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Zelma, Zelda, Zella, Zelie, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Zela's data
- Zela's usage has stayed within range of its 1910s decade-level peak (142 total births) through the 2020s (57) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- Texas records the most Zelas (11 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Texas names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Zela
Nearby Names Like Zela
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Zela
Zelma Girl
#6643 16,824 births
Zelda Girl
#747 16,734 births
Zella Girl
#1840 13,369 births
Zelie Girl
#1822 1,264 births
Zelia Girl
#5447 1,177 births
Compare Zela side by side: Zela vs Zelma Zela vs Zelda Zela vs Zella
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Zela
Nollie #13513
365 births · Peak 2012
Versie #13515
2,598 births · Peak 1914
Launa #13512
2,649 births · Peak 2006
Mackie #13516
597 births · Peak 1936
Hilaria #13511
982 births · Peak 1930
Madalene #13517
1,426 births · Peak 1919
Marybelle #13510
1,829 births · Peak 1923
Gayle #13518
61,357 births · Peak 1951
Data Sources
Data as of July 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1889–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Zela: #13514 Girls' Name - 609 Births, Peak 1916." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/zela. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Zela draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.