According to the U.S. baby name data, the name Zuleyka nearly quintupled in usage in 2006:
| Girls named Zuleyka (USA) | Girls named Zuleyka (PR) | |
| 2008 | 52 | 6 |
| 2007 | 116 | 7 |
| 2006 | 108 | 12 |
| 2005 | 22 | . |
| 2004 | 16 | . |
It also re-appeared in Puerto Rico’s baby name data after an absence of several years.
Why?
Because of the influence of Puerto Rican beauty queen Zuleyka (pronounced zoo-LAY-kah) Rivera, who was crowned Miss Universe in Los Angeles, California, in July of 2006.
The Miss Universe pageant doesn’t include a talent competition, but it does feature a national costume competition. Zuleyka’s costume was inspired by Atabey, the mother goddess of the Taíno people.
What are your thoughts on the name Zuleyka?
P.S. About a decade after winning the pageant, Zuleyka Rivera starred in the extremely popular music video for the song “Despacito” [vid] by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee.
Sources: Zuleyka Rivera – Wikipedia, Despacito – Wikipedia, SSA
Image: Screenshot of the TV broadcast of the 55th Miss Universe pageant