Zuleyka
Of Arabic origin, meaning "a beautiful long lock of hair".
Name Census estimates that about 1,538 living Americans carry the first name Zuleyka. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Zuleyka today is around 17 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Zuleyka births was 2015 (126 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Zuleyka. 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
- • Zuleyka is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 17 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
1.5K
~ 1 in 222,857 Americans
Peak year
2015
126 babies that year
Average age
17
years old
2024 SSA rank
#5,132
Tracked since 1975
Popularity
Zuleyka: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Zuleyka from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 742 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2010s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Zuleyka 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 Zuleyka during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Zuleykas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 13 states and territories. California, Texas, New York recorded the most babies named Zuleyka, while Colorado, Massachusetts, Washington recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 61 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Zuleyka
The name Zuleyka has its origins in the Arabic language and culture, tracing back to the medieval period. It is a variant spelling of the name Zuleikha, which is derived from the Arabic word "zulaykhah," meaning "beautiful" or "brilliant one."
During the medieval era, the name Zuleykha became popular in the Islamic world, particularly in regions where Arabic was the dominant language. It is mentioned in various Arabic literary works and religious texts, including the Qur'an, where Zuleykha is portrayed as the wife of the Egyptian nobleman Potiphar.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Zuleyka can be found in the writings of the renowned Persian poet Ferdowsi, who lived from 940 to 1020 AD. In his epic poem, the Shahnameh, he mentions a character named Zuleyka, adding to the name's historical significance.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Zuleyka. One such person was Zuleyka Aref-Adib (1873-1924), an Egyptian feminist and writer who played a pivotal role in advocating for women's rights and education in the early 20th century.
Another prominent figure was Zuleyka Rivero (1908-1962), a Cuban painter and ceramist known for her vibrant and expressive works that captured the essence of her native country. Her contributions to the art world earned her recognition both within Cuba and internationally.
In the realm of literature, Zuleyka Furtak (born 1959) is a contemporary American poet and translator whose works have been widely acclaimed and published in various literary journals and anthologies.
Moving to the field of sports, Zuleyka Rivera (born 1987) is a Puerto Rican track and field athlete who has represented her country in numerous international competitions, including the Olympic Games and the World Championships.
Lastly, Zuleyka Jerrido-Scott (born 1977) is a British actress and presenter known for her roles in various television shows and films, as well as her work as a presenter on the popular children's television series "Blue Peter."
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have carried the name Zuleyka, each leaving their mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human achievement.
People
Zuleyka + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Zuleyka 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
Zuleyka: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Zuleyka?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,538 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Zuleyka 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 222,857 US residents.
Is Zuleyka a common name?
We classify Zuleyka as "Rare". It ranks above 92.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,560 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Zuleyka most popular?
The single biggest year for Zuleyka was 2015, when 126 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Zuleyka is about 17 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Zuleyka a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Zuleyka 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.