Zelda
Girl name · 19 babies recorded · 1974–2025
Zelda: 19 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 4 births in 2018.
Zelda burst into popular consciousness as a literary invention, most famously crafted by American novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald for his wife and muse, Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald—a Jazz Age icon, artist, and writer in her own right. The name itself is likely a shortened form of Griselda, from Germanic roots meaning "grey battle maiden," though it also carries Yiddish associations as a diminutive of Selda, meaning "happy" or "blessed." In modern Scotland, Zelda remains a rare but beloved choice, its playful, vintage energy amplified by its use as the name of Nintendo's heroic princess in the legendary video game series. There are no major Scottish places named Zelda, but its rise in the UK owes much to the television series *Doctor Who*, where the character Zelda appeared in a 1980s adventure, cementing its quirky, adventurous charm for a new generation of parents.
Girl 5 of 52 years
- Peak year
- 20184 babies
- Latest (2024)
- #6384 babies
- Total births
- 19since 2018
- 5-year trend
- ≈ stablevs prior 5y