A 1880s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Zillah since 1881
Babies named Zillah per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2024, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Zillah's real moment was 1881.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 43 |
| 1890s | 52 |
| 1900s | 29 |
| 1910s | 75 |
| 1920s | 80 |
| 1930s | 0 |
| 1940s | 0 |
| 1950s | 6 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 5 |
| 1990s | 10 |
| 2000s | 59 |
| 2010s | 105 |
| 2020s | 88 |
Meaning & origin
Zillah is a rare biblical name that has never achieved widespread popularity in the United States. Dating back to 1881, the earliest year of Social Security data, Zillah ranked 7,133 in 2025, a slight resurgence after decades of obscurity. In 2025, only about 1 in 107,151 newborn girls received the name. Its popularity peaked in its first recorded year, 1881, and after a long decline, it has been rising since 1995, perhaps due to the broader revival of Old Testament names. The name is not strongly tied to any particular state geographically, but its biblical roots and short, distinctive sound make it a choice for parents seeking an unusual name with deep historical resonance. With no famous bearers to speak of, Zillah retains an unburdened quality, allowing it to stand on its own as a meaningful, shadow-evoking name.
Zillah is a biblical name of Hebrew origin, derived from the word "tsel" meaning "shadow" or "shade." In the Old Testament, Zillah was one of the wives of Lamech and the mother of Tubal-cain and Naamah (Genesis 4:19-22). The name was used among Puritans in the 17th century and later revived in the 19th century, though it has never been common.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Zil, Zilly, Lah
Sibling names for Zillah
Names that share Zillah's style, for a brother or sister.
