Zola
Zola is a girls' name of African origin meaning “quiet, tranquil, productive.” It ranked #982 in the United States in 2025. Zola is a Zulu name meaning quiet or tranquil, reflecting the southern African value of inner peace and composed…
how do you pronounce Zola?
ZOH-lah
Hear it spoken aloud with our AI pronunciation tool.
what does Zola mean?
The name Zola means “quiet, tranquil, productive.” It comes from the African language tradition.
Zola is a Zulu name meaning quiet or tranquil, reflecting the southern African value of inner peace and composed strength. The name has transcended its Zulu origins to become popular across the African diaspora and globally, prized for its melodic simplicity and serene meaning.
where does the name Zola come from?
Wikipedia identifies Zola as a Xhosa-language name in South Africa meaning 'be calm' or 'be quiet' — not a Zulu name, as stated elsewhere — with Nokuzola given as a common feminine variation. Wikipedia separately notes Zola is also an unrelated, common Italian surname.
the history of Zola
Per Wikipedia, the name enjoys widespread popularity in South Africa and other African nations and has spread internationally, ranking #990 on the US popular names list in 2021.
how popular is this name?
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2021 | #982 |
| 2020 | #935 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset
what are the nicknames and variants of Zola?
Variants around the world
who are famous people named Zola?
- Zola Budd (South African Olympic runner)
- Gianluigi 'Zola' (Italian footballer, though different etymology)
what names are similar to Zola?
what names go well with Zola?
Sibling names that share Zola's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
Last reviewed April 30, 2026 · Curated by HushName editorial
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