Zelenia
Of Slavic origin meaning "fresh greenery" or "verdant greens".
Name Census estimates that about 26 living Americans carry the first name Zelenia. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Zelenia today is around 12 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Zelenia births was 2018 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Zelenia. 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
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Zelenia. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
26
~ 1 in 13,182,859 Americans
Peak year
2018
8 babies that year
Average age
12
years old
2024 SSA rank
#17,616
Tracked since 1987
Popularity
Zelenia: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Zelenia from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 13 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Zelenia 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 Zelenia during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Zelenia
The given name Zelenia has its origins in the Slavic languages, particularly Russian and Ukrainian. It is a feminine name derived from the Slavic word "zelenyi," which means "green" or "verdant." The name gained popularity in the region during the medieval period, when nature-inspired names were common.
In Russian folklore and literature, Zelenia was often associated with the concept of spring, renewal, and fertility. The name carried connotations of freshness, growth, and natural beauty. Some historical records suggest that Zelenia was a popular name among peasant families, especially those living in rural areas where agriculture and the cycle of seasons held great significance.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Zelenia can be found in the 12th-century Veliky Novgorod Birch Bark manuscripts, which were discovered in the ancient city of Novgorod in modern-day Russia. These documents contain various mentions of individuals named Zelenia, indicating the name's usage during that time period.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Zelenia. One of the most famous was Zelenia Hvozdeva (1857-1932), a Russian writer and feminist activist who advocated for women's rights and education in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Another notable figure was Zelenia Komarova (1910-1984), a Soviet geologist and botanist who made significant contributions to the study of Arctic flora.
In the realm of arts and culture, Zelenia Dzhunkovskaya (1892-1978) was a celebrated Russian opera singer who performed at the Bolshoi Theatre and various other prestigious venues. Additionally, Zelenia Kravchenko (1915-1978) was a renowned Ukrainian actress who appeared in numerous films during the Soviet era.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Zelenia in Western literature can be found in the works of the English playwright William Shakespeare. In his play "A Midsummer Night's Dream," there is a character named Zelenia, a fairy attendant to the fairy queen Titania. This reference suggests that the name may have been known and used, at least in literary circles, in 16th-century England.
While the name Zelenia has its roots in Slavic cultures, it has been adopted and used in various other parts of the world over the centuries. Its connection to nature and the concept of renewal has contributed to its enduring appeal across different cultures and time periods.
People
Zelenia + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Zelenia as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with Z
Other first names starting with Z with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Zelenia: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Zelenia?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 26 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Zelenia 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 13,182,859 US residents.
Is Zelenia a common name?
We classify Zelenia as "Very Rare". It ranks above 44.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 26 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Zelenia most popular?
The single biggest year for Zelenia was 2018, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Zelenia is about 12 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Zelenia in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Zelenia a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Zelenia 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.
Is Zelenia still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Zelenia in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Zelenia can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Zelenia?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.