Declining since 2015, #6,325 for girls today.
Popularity of Zenobia since 1881
Babies named Zenobia per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1923, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Zenobia's real moment was 1909.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 43 |
| 1890s | 93 |
| 1900s | 159 |
| 1910s | 401 |
| 1920s | 497 |
| 1930s | 342 |
| 1940s | 351 |
| 1950s | 426 |
| 1960s | 371 |
| 1970s | 368 |
| 1980s | 335 |
| 1990s | 335 |
| 2000s | 277 |
| 2010s | 392 |
| 2020s | 202 |
Meaning & origin
Zenobia is a name of ancient prestige and uncertain etymology, most famously linked to the third-century queen of Palmyra who defied Rome. Its modern use peaked in 1909, when it ranked highest in the United States, but it has since declined steadily. In 2025, the name ranked 6,325th, with about 1 in 89,293 newborn girls receiving it. Its trajectory has been falling since 2015, reflecting its status as a rare, historically resonant choice rather than a contemporary fashionable one. The name has never been widely associated with any particular state or region in Social Security records.
Zenobia is the Latinized form of the Greek name Zenobia, often thought to combine Zeus (the king of the gods) and bios (life), thus 'life of Zeus'. It was borne by the famous third-century queen of Palmyra (in modern Syria), who led a revolt against the Roman Empire. Her native Palmyrene name was Bat-Zabbai, meaning 'daughter of Zabbai'. The name entered English usage in the 17th century and enjoyed modest popularity in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Zee, Nobi, Zena
Sibling names for Zenobia
Names that share Zenobia's style, for a brother or sister.
