Shadow, zeal, or to be happy
Zela is a name with multiple potential etymological roots. It is often considered a diminutive of Marcella or Hazel, but it also appears in African contexts and as a variant of the Hebrew name Zillah, meaning shadow. In some interpretations, it is linked to the Greek word for zeal or the Yiddish word for happy.
About 12 girls were named Zela in 2025.
Liberian-American singer and songwriter
US births per 5-year period, 1990–present (SSA data).
