Zoelle
A feminine name of unknown origin, possibly a variant of Zoey.
Name Census estimates that about 650 living Americans carry the first name Zoelle. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Zoelle today is around 10 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Zoelle births was 2018 (71 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Zoelle. 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.
People living today
650
~ 1 in 527,314 Americans
Peak year
2018
71 babies that year
Average age
10
years old
2024 SSA rank
#4,183
Tracked since 1998
Popularity
Zoelle: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Zoelle from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 355 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Zoelle remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Zoelle 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 Zoelle during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Zoelles live
The SSA's state-level files cover 9 states and territories. California, Texas, New York recorded the most babies named Zoelle, while Washington, Michigan, Maryland recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 16 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Zoelle
The name Zoelle is a French variation of the name Zoe, which is derived from the Greek word "zoe," meaning "life." This name has its roots in ancient Greek culture, where it was associated with the concept of vitality and the celebration of life.
Zoe was a relatively common name among ancient Greek women, and it can be found in various historical texts and records from that time period. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name was in the writings of the Greek philosopher Plato, who mentioned a woman named Zoe in his dialogues.
As the name spread throughout Europe, it evolved into various spellings and variations, including Zoelle. This particular spelling is believed to have originated in France during the Middle Ages, although the exact time period is uncertain.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Zoelle or its variations. One of the earliest recorded examples was Zoelle de Campendu (1230-1295), a French noblewoman and landowner during the 13th century.
Another notable figure was Zoelle de Gand (1380-1448), a Flemish mystic and writer who lived in the 15th century. Her works, which explored spiritual themes and mystical experiences, were widely read and influential during her time.
In the 16th century, Zoelle de Valois (1510-1572) was a French princess and the daughter of King Francis I of France. She was known for her patronage of the arts and her support of the Renaissance movement.
Moving into the 19th century, Zoelle Zingler (1825-1891) was a German painter and illustrator who gained recognition for her portraits and landscapes. Her works were exhibited in various galleries across Europe.
Finally, in the 20th century, Zoelle Haworth (1901-1988) was an American actress and dancer who appeared in several Broadway productions and Hollywood films during the 1920s and 1930s.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who bore the name Zoelle or its variations. While the name has evolved over time and across different cultures, it has maintained its connection to the concept of life and vitality, reflecting its ancient Greek origins.
People
Zoelle + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Zoelle 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
Zoelle: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Zoelle?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 650 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Zoelle 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 527,314 US residents.
Is Zoelle a common name?
We classify Zoelle as "Very Rare". It ranks above 87% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 655 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Zoelle most popular?
The single biggest year for Zoelle was 2018, when 71 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Zoelle is about 10 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Zoelle a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Zoelle 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.