Zimbalist
A masculine Old German given name meaning "a resident of a chamber".
Name Census estimates that about 11 living Americans carry the first name Zimbalist. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Zimbalist today is around 62 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Zimbalist births was 1961 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Zimbalist. 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 Zimbalist. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
11
~ 1 in 31,159,485 Americans
Peak year
1961
8 babies that year
Average age
62
years old
1972 SSA rank
#5,751
Tracked since 1961
Popularity
Zimbalist: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Zimbalist from the 1960s through to the 1970s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 8 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1960s peak, Zimbalist remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Zimbalist 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 Zimbalist 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 Zimbalist
The name Zimbalist has its origins in the Slavic languages, particularly Russian and Polish. It is believed to have derived from the Old Slavic word "zimb," which means "winter" or "cold." The earliest recorded use of the name dates back to the 12th century in Eastern Europe.
During the Middle Ages, Zimbalist was a relatively common surname among Slavic populations. It was often given to individuals born or living in regions with harsh winter climates. Over time, the surname evolved into a first name, although its usage remained primarily within Slavic communities.
One of the earliest documented instances of Zimbalist as a first name can be found in the 16th century Russian chronicles, where it was mentioned as the name of a minor nobleman from the city of Novgorod. However, it was not until the 18th and 19th centuries that the name gained more widespread recognition.
Zimbalist Mikhailovich (1765-1832) was a prominent Russian composer and violinist who is credited with introducing the concept of the string quartet to Russia. His contributions to classical music earned him a place in the annals of Russian cultural history.
Another notable bearer of the name was Zimbalist Petrovich (1820-1891), a celebrated Russian playwright and novelist. His works, which explored themes of social commentary and human nature, were highly influential in shaping the literary landscape of 19th century Russia.
In the 20th century, Zimbalist Ivanovich (1902-1979) was a renowned Soviet physicist who made significant contributions to the field of nuclear physics. He played a crucial role in the development of the Soviet nuclear program during the Cold War era.
One of the most famous individuals with the name Zimbalist is the American actor Efrem Zimbalist Jr. (1918-2014). He gained widespread recognition for his roles in popular television series such as "77 Sunset Strip" and "The FBI." His father, Efrem Zimbalist Sr. (1890-1985), was also an accomplished violinist and composer of Russian descent.
Beyond the realms of art and science, Zimbalist Alexandrovich (1875-1949) was a prominent Russian military leader who served in both the Imperial Russian Army and the Red Army. He played a significant role in the Russian Civil War and later held important positions in the Soviet government.
While the name Zimbalist has its roots in Slavic cultures, it has also gained recognition in other parts of the world, particularly through the accomplishments of notable individuals who have borne this name throughout history.
People
Zimbalist + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Zimbalist 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
Zimbalist: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Zimbalist?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 11 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Zimbalist 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 31,159,485 US residents.
Is Zimbalist a common name?
We classify Zimbalist as "Very Rare". It ranks above 30.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 13 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Zimbalist most popular?
The single biggest year for Zimbalist was 1961, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Zimbalist is about 62 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 Zimbalist in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Zimbalist a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Zimbalist in the SSA data are male. 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 Zimbalist still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Zimbalist 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 Zimbalist 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 Zimbalist as a first name?
See how many people have the name Zimbalist on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.