Zerlina
A girl's name of Italian origin with 58 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Among U.S. girl's names, Zerlina is not in the current national top 1,000. In fact, it is among the rarest names in the SSA dataset — a choice that signals bold individuality.
Appearing in records from 1969 to 2003, Zerlina has a solid multi-decade track record without being a permanent fixture — it belongs to a specific chapter of American naming.
Zerlina is not in the current top 1,000 girl names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Zerlina is a girl's baby name of Italian origin, a diminutive of Zara or a German name possibly meaning 'beautiful dawn.' Zerlina is best known as a character in Mozart's opera Don Giovanni — a peasant girl whose natural grace and wit make her one of the opera's most appealing figures.
Zerlina carries the operatic beauty of Mozart — a character name with golden-age charm, an Italian melodiousness, and the distinction of belonging to one of the most beloved operas in the repertoire.
EtymologyShow more
Names travel. They cross oceans, change spelling, shift pronunciation, and accumulate new associations with each culture that adopts them. Zerlina is rooted in the Italian tradition, but its presence in American naming since 1969 means it has been shaped by English phonetics, local customs, and the cultural context of the families who chose it.
Zerlina’s rarity (58 recorded births) may indicate it is strongly tied to a specific cultural community or family tradition, rather than part of the broader American naming mainstream.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Zerlina has 9+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1969.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7 | #13830 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 6 | #10407 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 40 | #8181 | ▲ |
| 1960s | 5 | #8702 | — |
The Story of Zerlina
A Gen X name
Peaking in 1974, Zerlina is a Gen X staple. Girls named Zerlina are most likely born between 1969 and 1984.
How rare is Zerlina?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Zerlina is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1969, peaked in the 1970s with 40 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Zerlina by the numbers
- Would fill 1 school bus
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(9 years, 1969–2003)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 7 | #13830 |
| 1981 | 6 | #10407 |
| 1977 | 7 | #8439 |
| 1975 | 5 | #10614 |
| 1974 | 9 | #6258 |
| 1973 | 6 | #8421 |
| 1972 | 6 | #8289 |
| 1970 | 7 | #7067 |
| 1969 | 5 | #8702 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zerlina a boy's or girl's name?
When was Zerlina most popular?
How popular is the name Zerlina?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1969–2003