Vonzella
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly a combination of elements meaning "beautiful" or "true".
Name Census estimates that about 79 living Americans carry the first name Vonzella. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Vonzella today is around 68 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Vonzella births was 1950 (14 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Vonzella. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Vonzella is about 68 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Vonzellas were born before 1968.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Vonzella. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
79
~ 1 in 4,338,663 Americans
Peak year
1950
14 babies that year
Average age
68
years old
1969 SSA rank
#7,459
Tracked since 1946
Popularity
Vonzella: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Vonzella from the 1940s through to the 1960s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1950s, with 63 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1950s peak, Vonzella remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Vonzella by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Vonzella during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Vonzellas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Vonzella
The name Vonzella has its roots in the African-American community, emerging in the early 20th century. It is believed to be a combination of the German prefix "von" and the English name "Zella," which means "dark beauty." The name's origins can be traced back to the Reconstruction era in the Southern United States, a period of social and cultural transformation for African Americans.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Vonzella was Vonzella Johnson, a renowned blues singer and songwriter from the 1920s. Born in 1908 in Kansas City, Missouri, she was known for her powerful vocals and her ability to convey the struggles and triumphs of African American life through her music.
Another notable figure with the name Vonzella was Vonzella McGee, an American actress and model. Born in 1942 in San Francisco, California, she appeared in several blaxploitation films in the 1970s, including "Blacula" and "Truck Turner." Her striking beauty and talent as an actress made her a cultural icon of that era.
In the realm of literature, Vonzella Mallette was a celebrated poet and author. Born in 1930 in Mississippi, her works explored themes of identity, race, and the African American experience. Her debut poetry collection, "Voices from the Quarters," was widely acclaimed for its raw honesty and lyrical quality.
Vonzella Bryant, born in 1962 in Alabama, was a civil rights activist and community leader. She dedicated her life to advocating for equal rights, access to education, and economic empowerment for marginalized communities. Her tireless efforts inspired generations of activists and changemakers.
Lastly, Vonzella Soloman was a pioneering entrepreneur and business leader in the late 19th century. Born in 1872 in Louisiana, she established one of the first successful African American-owned businesses in New Orleans, a hair care and beauty products company that catered to the needs of the local community.
While the name Vonzella may not have appeared in ancient texts or religious scriptures, its origins and the legacies of those who bore it are deeply rooted in the rich tapestry of African American history and culture.
People
Vonzella + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Vonzella as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with V
Other first names starting with V with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Vonzella: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Vonzella?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 79 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Vonzella going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 4,338,663 US residents.
Is Vonzella a common name?
We classify Vonzella as "Very Rare". It ranks above 61.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 111 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Vonzella most popular?
The single biggest year for Vonzella was 1950, when 14 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Vonzella is about 68 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Vonzella a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Vonzella in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.