Zola

At a Glance

Meaning

Calm, tranquil

Origin

African (Zulu/Xhosa); unrelated Italian surname also exists

Gender

Girl

Pronunciation

ZOH-lahListen

Zola is pronounced ZOH-lah and comes from an African (Zulu/Xhosa) root meaning calm, tranquil. You may see it listed online as meaning "earth" — that comes from an unrelated Italian surname that shares the same spelling, not from the African name itself. It's among worldly and clean, modern name styles.

Meaning & Origin of Zola

Meaning: Calm, tranquil.

Origin: African (Zulu/Xhosa); unrelated Italian surname also exists.

A common claim: Often listed as meaning 'earth', which traces to the unrelated Italian surname rather than the African use of the name. Actually: The 'earth' meaning circulating online likely comes from conflating the African given name with the unrelated Italian surname Zola (from zolla, 'clod of earth'); as an African name, Zola is generally linked to a Zulu/Xhosa word for 'calm, tranquil'.

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Zola

Popularity of Zola

Zola's peak year in SSA records was 1895, when it ranked #365 with 60 babies given the name. By 2024 it ranked #1106 with 221 babies, out of data spanning 1880-2024.

Names Like Zola

These names share Zola’s style, era or origin.

• Nyah
• Emani
• Taye
• Zendaya
• Aanya
• Adia

FAQ

What does the name Zola mean?

Calm, tranquil. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Zola?

Zola is pronounced ZOH-lah (IPA: /ˈzoʊlə/).

Is Zola a popular name right now?

Zola peaked at #365 in 1895 and is ranked #1106 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

Make Zola Name Art

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