Zylah
Feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly a spelling variant of Zyla.
Name Census estimates that about 1,299 living Americans carry the first name Zylah. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Zylah today is around 8 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Zylah births was 2024 (140 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Zylah. 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
- • Zylah is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 8 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
1.3K
~ 1 in 263,860 Americans
Peak year
2024
140 babies that year
Average age
8
years old
2024 SSA rank
#1,532
Tracked since 2001
Popularity
Zylah: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Zylah from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 649 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
Zylah 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 Zylah during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Zylahs live
The SSA's state-level files cover 18 states and territories. California, Texas, Florida recorded the most babies named Zylah, while Missouri, Maryland, Massachusetts recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 34 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Zylah
The name Zylah is a relatively modern invention, with no clear origins or direct translations from ancient languages. It does not appear to be derived from any particular cultural or linguistic roots, but rather seems to be a creative combination of sounds and letters chosen for their aesthetic or symbolic qualities.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Zylah can be found in the 19th century novel "The Mysterious Stranger" by Mark Twain, published in 1916. In this work, Twain introduces a character named Zylah, though he provides no context or explanation for the name's meaning or origin.
Beyond this literary reference, there are no significant historical mentions or famous individuals named Zylah prior to the 20th century. The name appears to have gained some popularity in the latter half of the 1900s, possibly inspired by its unique sound and the growing trend of inventing new, unconventional names.
One notable individual named Zylah is Zylah Washington, an American actress and model born in 1989. She has appeared in various television shows and films, including "The Vampire Diaries" and "Surviving Compton: Dre, Suge & Michel'le."
Another individual with this name is Zylah Haye, a Canadian fashion designer and entrepreneur born in 1985. She is the founder of the clothing brand "Zylah Haye Designs," known for its sustainable and ethical fashion practices.
In the literary world, Zylah Kwan is a Malaysian-born author and poet who has published several collections of poetry and short stories. Her works often explore themes of identity, culture, and the immigrant experience.
Zylah Mead-Taylor is a British artist and sculptor who gained recognition for her large-scale public installations and sculptures made from recycled materials. Her works have been exhibited in various galleries and museums around the world.
Finally, Zylah Loretto is a Venezuelan-American singer and songwriter who has released several albums and singles in both English and Spanish. She is known for her unique blend of Latin and pop music styles.
While the name Zylah may not have a deep historical or cultural significance, its modern usage and association with individuals in various fields have contributed to its growing popularity and recognition in recent decades.
People
Zylah + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Zylah 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
Zylah: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Zylah?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,299 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Zylah 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 263,860 US residents.
Is Zylah a common name?
We classify Zylah as "Rare". It ranks above 91.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,308 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Zylah most popular?
The single biggest year for Zylah was 2024, when 140 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Zylah is about 8 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Zylah a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Zylah 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.