I’ve been crushing on [name_f]Zelda[/name_f] pretty hard lately, but now I’m paranoid that it’s about to blow up big time. I’m thinking like new [name_f]Zoe[/name_f], new top 10 big. I don’t mind popular names necessarily, but I do mind “trendy” names–e.g., names that will definitely peg someone to a particular few years or decade. (I say this as a very 80s-named person). [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] is popular, but she could be any age. [name_f]Amanda[/name_f] is probably in her 30s now, by contrast.
The [name_u]Legend[/name_u] of [name_f]Zelda[/name_f] came out in the 80s and, although it’s been about way before then, that’s when people paid attention. However, a big however, it only entered the 1000 in 2015 (for the first time in 50 years!) at #647. It is never going to be the next [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] and it is never going to be in the top 10, at least for our lifetime, as well as whoever you’re calling [name_f]Zelda[/name_f]'s lifetime.
I think it entered the top 1000 because people found a love for Z names (e.g. [name_f]Zoe[/name_f], [name_f]Zara[/name_f], [name_m]Zachary[/name_m] etc) and [name_f]Zelda[/name_f] didn’t catch on as well as [name_f]Zoe[/name_f], so I think you’re fine.
Plus, names in the top 10/100/1000 now are completely different from names that were in the top 10/100/1000 20 plus years ago. Top names now are used a lot (and I mean, a LOT) less than names that were popular a few decades back, heck even 10 years back.
I think that this beautiful name is not going to be huge. I have never known anyone with this name! Unlike my impression of [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] (which is cute for a younger person), [name_f]Zelda[/name_f] carries her through a lifetime.
I’m personally not a fan, so yeah, you might encounter some mixed reactions. I guess that’s true with most names though. Any name can blow up big time as well – my parents named me [name_f]Emma[/name_f] in 1999 and didn’t expect it to end up at #1 on the charts.
It will definitely not get that popular. I’ve seen it mentioned on here quite a bit more recently but we’re name nerds–I still think it will be rare to hear on the ‘outside’
I think that sometimes being on baby name boards can make people think a name is more popular than it actually is. I personally have never met someone who had a child named [name_f]Zelda[/name_f], wanted a child named [name_f]Zelda[/name_f], or even particularly liked the name, and yet on this baby name board, there are lots of very positive reactions to it. It’s a gorgeous name, but out in the world I don’t think it will catch on the way it does on a name forum. I think you’re safe
[name_f]Do[/name_f] I think that [name_f]Zelda[/name_f] will become top 10 anytime soon? No, but I do think it will become a lot more popular. From not even being in the top 1000, then suddenly appearing at the mid-600s? That is a huge jump that reminds me a lot of the name [name_u]Everly[/name_u]. [name_u]Everly[/name_u] debuted at 907 in 2012, had a huge jump to 385 in 2013, jumped again to 178 in 2014, and now is at 138. I would not be surprised at all if [name_u]Everly[/name_u] is top 100 next year, and I could see [name_f]Zelda[/name_f] hitting in the 200-300 range.
On the other hand, there are names that that are really hot for a couple of years but fall fast. [name_f]Miley[/name_f] is a good example: debuted in 2007 at a crazy 278, peaked the next year at 127, then started falling in rather large leaps until it left the top 1000 in 2015. So, it can be hard to know for sure! I’m guessing the sudden spike in [name_f]Zelda[/name_f]‘s popularity is due to [name_u]Robin[/name_u] [name_m]Williams[/name_m]’ daughter’s name being in the news after his death, showing parents that it can work on a real person, not just a video game character. If her name continues to stay in the news – she’s an actress, I believe – I could see the name getting even more popular as long as she doesn’t do anything too scandalous.
I don’t think so. It must be popular somewhere to rank at #646, but I’ve only ever seen it discussed as a viable option on Nameberry. I can’t imagine anyone I know considering [name_f]Zelda[/name_f], much less using it. It feels very urban hipster to me.
[name_f]Zelda[/name_f] is a name I have always loved! [name_f]Every[/name_f] time I mention it I get the video game association from other people. I consider it a classic name, but no one else seems to. I don’t anticipate this name being huge any time soon.
I agree with everyone else - it’s unlikely to be a top 10 hit. I think it experienced a huge bump because of the [name_f]Zelda[/name_f] [name_m]Fitzgerald[/name_m] biography that recently came out, and there was enough low key buzz to get the name out there to name nerds. The only thing I don’t like about [name_f]Zelda[/name_f] is that it’s so distinct and a little bit try-hard…which means it might be the kind of name people get tired of way before it becomes popular.
It’s funny, because this name doesn’t rank high, but I personally know 4 in my area. I think it is too connected to the game franchise to really be considered a good name, in my very honest opinion. It seems like their parents were trying to hard to be cool.
I think it will become more popular, but not necessarily Top 10. It’s definitely trending upward, and it’s been low-key on the radar for a while now; between new [name_u]Legend[/name_u] of [name_f]Zelda[/name_f] games, [name_u]Robin[/name_u] [name_m]Williams[/name_m]’ death and daughter [name_f]Zelda[/name_f], and The Great [name_m]Gatsby[/name_m] and [name_f]Zelda[/name_f] [name_m]Fitzgerald[/name_m], it really has been around a lot.
I agree with a previous poster that it’s had some HUGE and significant leaps, and I see it probably rising over the next few years and hovering somewhere between #200-300 for a while, and then slowly dropping down. I cannot see it ever being a Top 10 name - I think it’s too connected to the video games and tragic figures, not to mention it still sounds pretty “quirky,” which really turns some people off. I don’t think you’ll have a million running around, though. [name_m]Even[/name_m] if it was Top 50, it will never be [name_f]Jessica[/name_f], [name_f]Sarah[/name_f], [name_u]Ashley[/name_u], or [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f]-level popular, because no names are like that anymore.
