Declining since 2017.
Popularity of Zanobia since 1976
Babies named Zanobia per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 6 |
| 1980s | 5 |
| 1990s | 22 |
| 2000s | 23 |
| 2010s | 49 |
| 2020s | 13 |
Meaning & origin
Zanobia is a rare name that has never appeared in the top 1000, with usage so low that the one-in-N statistic is not reported. The name first appeared in U.S. records in 1976, and its peak year to date was 2018, when it reached its highest number of recorded births. Since 2017 the name has been falling in use, though it remains a distinctive choice. Historically, the name connects to Zenobia, the third-century queen of Palmyra, a figure of military and political significance in the Roman East. The variant Zanobia reflects an English phonetic spelling that retains the original's Arabic and Greek resonance.
Zanobia is a variant of the name Zenobia, which has Greek and Arabic connections. The Greek form Zenobia derives from Zenos, a name of Zeus, and bios, meaning 'life', thus 'life of Zeus'. In Arabic tradition, Zenobia (al-Zabba) was a third-century queen of Palmyra who led a famous revolt against the Roman Empire. The modern spelling Zanobia likely emerged as a phonetic variant.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Zanny, Nobi, Zia
Variants: Zenobia, Zanobiya
Sibling names for Zanobia
Names that share Zanobia's style, for a brother or sister.
