Zoila
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "life, lively".
Name Census estimates that about 1,487 living Americans carry the first name Zoila. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Zoila today is around 37 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Zoila births was 1988 (35 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Zoila. 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
1.5K
~ 1 in 230,501 Americans
Peak year
1988
35 babies that year
Average age
37
years old
2024 SSA rank
#7,221
Tracked since 1911
Popularity
Zoila: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Zoila from the 1910s through to the 2020s, spanning 12 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 272 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1980s peak, Zoila remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Zoila 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 Zoila during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Zoilas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 5 states and territories. Texas, California, New York recorded the most babies named Zoila, while Florida, New Jersey, New York recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 166 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Zoila
The name Zoila has its origins in the Greek language and culture, dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Greek word "zoē," which means "life." The name is believed to have been popular among the ancient Greeks as a way to express their reverence for life and its significance.
In ancient Greek mythology, there are references to the name Zoila being associated with various goddesses and figures who represented the concepts of life, fertility, and nature. Some scholars have suggested that the name may have been used as a tribute to these deities, reflecting the importance of life in the Greek pantheon.
The earliest recorded examples of the name Zoila can be traced back to ancient Greek texts and inscriptions. One notable instance is found in the works of the Greek historian Herodotus, who mentions a woman named Zoila in his writings from the 5th century BC.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Zoila. One of the earliest recorded examples is Zoila of Cyzicus, a Greek poet and philosopher who lived in the 3rd century BC. She was known for her contributions to the study of grammar and literature.
Another prominent figure was Zoila of Thebes, a Greek painter who lived in the 4th century BC. Her works were renowned for their vibrant colors and depictions of mythological scenes, although few of her original paintings have survived to the present day.
In the Middle Ages, there was Zoila de Carrión, a Spanish noblewoman who lived in the 12th century. She was known for her involvement in the political affairs of the Kingdom of León and her patronage of the arts and literature.
During the Renaissance, Zoila Ravaschieri was an Italian scholar and humanist who lived in the 15th century. She was celebrated for her knowledge of classical literature and her contributions to the study of ancient texts.
In more recent times, Zoila Gálvez was a Cuban poet and writer who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Her poetry and literary works focused on themes of love, nature, and the struggles of women in society.
While the name Zoila has its roots in ancient Greek culture, it has transcended time and geographical boundaries, with individuals bearing this name across various cultures and regions throughout history. The name's connection to the concept of life has endured, making it a timeless and meaningful choice for many.
People
Zoila + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Zoila 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
Zoila: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Zoila?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,487 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Zoila 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 230,501 US residents.
Is Zoila a common name?
We classify Zoila as "Rare". It ranks above 92.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,883 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Zoila most popular?
The single biggest year for Zoila was 1988, when 35 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Zoila is about 37 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Zoila a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Zoila 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.