Holding steady.
Popularity of Zilla since 1882
Babies named Zilla per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1918, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Zilla's real moment was 1882.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 18 |
| 1890s | 52 |
| 1900s | 27 |
| 1910s | 63 |
| 1920s | 85 |
| 1930s | 25 |
| 1940s | 11 |
| 1950s | 7 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Zilla is a rare feminine name with biblical echoes, most likely a variant of Zillah, a figure in the Book of Genesis. The name's earliest recorded year in the United States is 1882, which also happens to be its peak year, though even then it was given to fewer than five babies per year. According to Social Security Administration data, Zilla has never ranked in the national top 1,000, and its trajectory over the last century has been stable at near-zero usage. The name's obscurity makes it virtually absent from modern birth certificates, with no dominant state associations. Parents who choose Zilla today are selecting an uncommon, Old Testament-adjacent name with a soft sound and a hint of vintage flavor.
Zilla is likely a short form or variant of the biblical name Zillah, which appears in the Old Testament as the wife of Lamech and is traditionally said to mean 'shade' or 'shadow.' The name Zilla has been used sparingly in English-speaking countries, with rare records dating back to the 19th century. Its usage has been minimal, mostly confined to occasional births in the United States.
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Zilla
Names that share Zilla's style, for a brother or sister.
