Meaning & origin
A reliable meaning for Zell isn’t established in our sources yet. Rather than guess, we show what is recorded: how the name is used, how often, and the names it’s connected to.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1898. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Zell through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 583
- 213 boys · 370 girls
- Most popular year
- 1925
- 29 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for boys is 5 in 2023. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for boys was 16 in 1919. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 324 as a first name in 2020; 2,815 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Zell’s family of names
In German usage, Zell as a surname has a related form in ZELLE. In German usage, Zell as a surname has a related form in ZELLE. In German usage, Zell as a surname has a related form in ZELLER.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Zell
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Zell, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Odell
“a sweet melody” · “one who is wealthy”
98% boys · 2% girls
Berl
>99% boys
Hershel
“resembling a deer”
>99% boys
Russel
“a little red-haired boy”
>99% boys
Elwyn
“a friend of the elves”
81% boys · 19% girls
Elson
“from the nobleman's town”
>99% boys
Elwin
“a friend of the elves”
>99% boys
Webb
“a weaver”
>99% boys