Rising since 1989, #1,285 for girls today.
Popularity of Zinnia since 1917
Babies named Zinnia per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 6 |
| 1920s | 0 |
| 1930s | 0 |
| 1940s | 5 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 21 |
| 1970s | 115 |
| 1980s | 128 |
| 1990s | 143 |
| 2000s | 294 |
| 2010s | 990 |
| 2020s | 983 |
Meaning & origin
Zinnia first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1917, but for decades it remained a rare choice. Its popularity began climbing in 1989, and the ascent accelerated in the 2020s. Zinnia reached its highest rank of 1285 in 2023, and in 2025 it maintained that same rank, with a 1-in-9237 usage rate. The name is most common in Washington, Missouri, and Maryland. Zinnia belongs to a modern trend of botanical names, sharing an aesthetic with names like Lily and Violet, yet it stands out as fresher and less conventional. As more parents seek nature-inspired names that feel both vintage and contemporary, Zinnia's revival appears rooted in a return to floral names with a touch of uniqueness.
Zinnia is a botanical name taken directly from the genus of flowering plants in the sunflower family. The genus was named by Carl Linnaeus in honor of Johann Gottfried Zinn, an 18th century German botanist. The name entered use as a given name in the early 20th century, likely inspired by the popularity of floral names such as Rose and Lily.
Where Zinnia is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Zin, Zinnie, Z
Sibling names for Zinnia
Names that share Zinnia's style, for a brother or sister.
