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At a Glance
- 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
ZEL-dahIPA /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.
Names Like Zelda
These names share Zelda’s style, era or origin.
FAQ
What does the name Zelda mean?
Grey battle-maiden (via Griselda); also ‘blessed’ as a form of Zelig. (Source: Wiktionary)
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.)
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.
📊 How popular is Zelda? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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