Zelda

At a Glance: Name: Zelda – Meaning: grey battle-maiden (via Griselda); also 'blessed' as a form of Zelig – Origin: German (via Griselda) / Yiddish (feminine of Zelig) – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: ZEL-dah

---

Zelda is a vintage, romantic, storybook name for a girl, pronounced ZEL-dah. It carries two roots: German, as a short form of Griselda, meaning 'grey battle-maiden,' and Yiddish, as the feminine of Zelig, which means 'blessed.' A parent who likes a name with old-fashioned charm and a bit of a fairy-tale feel will find both here.

Meaning & Origin of Zelda

Meaning: Grey battle-maiden (via Griselda); also 'blessed' as a form of Zelig.

Origin: German (via Griselda) / Yiddish (feminine of Zelig).

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Zelda

Phonetic: ZEL-dah   IPA: /ˈzɛldə/

Popularity of Zelda

Zelda peaked at #376 in 1911, when 117 girls were given the name. In 2024 it ranked #748, with 376 girls named Zelda, so it is far from rare today, and more girls received it in 2024 than in its peak year.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.

Make Zelda Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Zelda, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Gertrude
• Hedwig
• Hilda
• Hildegard
• Liesel
• Marlene

FAQ

What does the name Zelda mean?

Grey battle-maiden (via Griselda); also ‘blessed’ as a form of Zelig. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Zelda)

How do you pronounce Zelda?

Zelda is pronounced ZEL-dah (IPA: /ˈzɛldə/).

Is Zelda a popular name right now?

Zelda peaked at #376 in 1911 and is ranked #748 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

More Baby Name Inspiration

• Check any name’s popularity history
• Take the naming-style quiz
• Make art for a different name