Declining since 2020, #10,107 for girls today.
Popularity of Zellie since 1897
Babies named Zellie per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1918, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Zellie's real moment was 1906.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 5 |
| 1900s | 23 |
| 1910s | 49 |
| 1920s | 42 |
| 1930s | 7 |
| 1940s | 5 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 5 |
| 2010s | 68 |
| 2020s | 62 |
Meaning & origin
Zellie first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1897, a time when many diminutive and nickname-style names were fashionable for girls. Its peak year was 1906, reflecting the name's strongest usage during the early 1900s. Since 2020, Zellie has been on a downward trajectory, with births per year becoming increasingly rare. Based on Social Security Administration data, the name now ranks 10,107 and is given to roughly one in every 178,585 newborns, making it an uncommon choice even among vintage revivals. The name's origins are uncertain, though it likely emerged as a playful, feminine-sounding variation of similar short names. Despite its obscurity, Zellie carries a distinct turn-of-the-century charm.
Zellie is a name that emerged in the late 19th century, likely as a diminutive or affectionate form of names such as Zella or those ending with -zel. It may also be a variant of Zillah, a Hebrew name meaning 'shade.' However, its exact derivation is uncertain. The name saw modest use in the United States around the turn of the 20th century, particularly in the 1900s, before declining in popularity.
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Zellie
Names that share Zellie's style, for a brother or sister.
