Rising since 1998, #8,243 for boys today.
Popularity of Zelig since 1995
Babies named Zelig per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 6 |
| 2000s | 55 |
| 2010s | 68 |
| 2020s | 61 |
Meaning & origin
Zelig is an extremely rare given name in the United States, first recorded on the Social Security Administration's baby name list in 1995. Its rank in 2025 was 8,243rd, with an estimated 1 in every 189,786 male newborns receiving the name. The name has been on an upward trajectory since 1998, with its peak popularity occurring in 2021. Despite its scarcity, Zelig carries a strong cultural and religious resonance within Ashkenazi Jewish communities, derived from the Yiddish word for 'blessed.' The name has not been concentrated in any single state, according to available data. Its rarity and distinctive sound make it an uncommon but meaningful choice for families seeking a name with deep historical roots in Jewish tradition.
Zelig is derived from the Yiddish word 'zèlig,' meaning 'blessed' or 'holy,' itself from Middle High German 'sælec' (blessed, fortunate). The name appears in Ashkenazi Jewish communities as a vernacular form of the Hebrew name Asher, which also means 'happy' or 'blessed.' In the early 20th century, it was occasionally used in Jewish immigrant families in the United States but remained rare. Its widest modern exposure came from Woody Allen's 1983 film 'Zelig,' though the name predates the movie by centuries.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Zeli, Ziggy, Z
Variants: Zelik, Zeligman
Sibling names for Zelig
Names that share Zelig's style, for a brother or sister.
