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At a Glance: Name: Zenobia – Meaning: life of Zeus (feminine form of Zenobios); origin possibly Aramaic – Origin: Greek (feminine of Zenobios); possibly a Hellenized rendering of a Palmyrene Aramaic name – Gender: primarily used for girls
Zenobia is a Greek name, the feminine form of Zenobios, and it is usually explained as meaning "life of Zeus." That explanation is the standard one, but some scholars suggest the name may instead be a Greek rendering of a Palmyrene Aramaic name, so its origin isn't quite as settled as the Greek gloss makes it sound.
Meaning & Origin of Zenobia
Meaning: Life of Zeus (feminine form of Zenobios); origin possibly Aramaic.
Origin: Greek (feminine of Zenobios); possibly a Hellenized rendering of a Palmyrene Aramaic name.
A common claim: Zenobia means 'life of Zeus' or 'power/strength of Zeus.' Actually: This Greek gloss is the standard explanation, but some scholars suggest the name may instead render an Aramaic name rather than being purely Greek in origin.
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
Popularity of Zenobia
Zenobia peaked in 1909, when it ranked #683 with 35 babies given the name. By 2024 it had slipped to #4541, with 31 babies, so it's a rare pick today.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1881–2024.
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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.
FAQ
What does the name Zenobia mean?
Life of Zeus (feminine form of Zenobios); origin possibly Aramaic. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Zenobia)
Is Zenobia a popular name right now?
Zenobia peaked at #683 in 1909 and is ranked #4541 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1881–2024.)
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