Given name & surname · also Middle High German
Zelda
“gray-haired battlemaiden”
Zelda is used as a given name and a surname. One German interpretation is “gray-haired battlemaiden.” Its derivation is not certain.
Meaning & origin
What it means
One German interpretation is “gray-haired battlemaiden.” Its derivation is not certain.
Where it comes from
A possible origin is German, although the derivation remains uncertain.
How it developed
In English usage, Zelda is a diminutive of Griselda. Zelda is a short form of Griselda.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Zelda is a diminutive of Griselda. The history of Griselda gives this family its wider story. Griselda was in use during the Middle Ages.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Zelda through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 16,739
- 5 boys · 16,734 girls
- Most popular year
- 2020
- 526 babies
- 2025
- 328
- #832 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −11%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 328 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 832 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 11.0% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (44). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 7,424 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Zelda’s family of names
In English usage, Zelda is a diminutive of Griselda. Zelda has a related form in Zeldah. Zelda is a short form of Griselda.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 4
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Zelda
- Zelda WilliamsAmerican actressborn 1989
- Zelda FitzgeraldAmerican writer (1900–1948)
- Zelda RubinsteinAmerican actress (1933-2010)
- ZeldaIsraeli poet (1914–1984)
- Zelda HarrisAmerican actressborn 1985
- Jackie Ormescartoonist (1911-1985)
- Zelda Searsactress, novelist, screenwriter and businesswoman (1873-1935)
- Zelda PopkinAmerican novel and mystery author (1898-1983)
- Zelda D'ApranoAustralian feminist activist (1928-2018)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Zelda, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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