How popular is the baby name Zeline in the United States right now? How popular was it historically? Use the popularity graph and data table below to find out! Plus, see all the blog posts that mention the name Zeline.

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Popularity of the baby name Zeline


Posts that mention the name Zeline

Mystery baby name: Zeline (Solved!)

Graph of the usage of the baby name Zeline in the U.S. since 1880
Usage of the baby name Zeline

Time for another mystery baby name! Today’s stumper is Zeline, which charted in 1957 with a dozen baby girls:

  • 1959: unlisted
  • 1958: unlisted
  • 1957: 12 baby girls named Zeline
  • 1956: unlisted
  • 1955: unlisted

The name Zelene debuted the same year, with half as many baby girls.

I’ve done all my standard research, which includes looking at newspapers and periodicals of the era, and so far I haven’t found any notable people/characters/products named Zeline (or Zelene) in 1956-1957.

These names don’t appear to be a variant of a more popular name, though I should mention that Celine saw an uptick in usage in ’58, which is interesting.

At least three of the Zelines and two of the Zelenes were born in California, but this probably isn’t much of a clue, given the relative population of California.

Anyone have a theory about the origin of this one?

Update, Apr. 2025: I think Anonymous has figured it out!

Synopsis of "Ten Minutes to Curfew"
“Zeline”

A character named Zeline was featured in a late 1956 episode of the popular TV anthology series Climax! (1954-58).

The episode, “Ten Minutes to Curfew,” which was set in the French Quarter of New Orleans, was broadcast on December 27. The main character was ex-convict George Slattery (played by Dewey Martin), and George’s love interest was Zeline Marie Preval (played by Susan Kohner).

“Ten Minutes to Curfew” was based on a story by William Fay called “The Outcasts,” which had been published in The Saturday Evening Post just three months earlier. (In Fay’s version, the setting was New York City, and the female character was named Rose Bruno.)

Thank you again, Anonymous!

Sources:

Second image: Clipping from The Daily Reporter (27 Dec. 1956)

Mystery baby name: Wanza (Solved!)

Graph of the usage of the baby name Wanza in the U.S. since 1880
Usage of the baby name Wanza

Wanza was a top debut name of 1915. That year, at least 33 U.S. babies were named Wanza:

  • 1919: 8 baby girls named Wanza
  • 1918: 12 baby girls named Wanza
  • 1917: 7 baby girls named Wanza
  • 1916: 13 baby girls named Wanza
  • 1915: 33 baby girls named Wanza [debut]
  • 1914: unlisted

The name kept appearing in the U.S. baby name data until the 1960s, but it never hit as high as 33 again.

Where did it come from?

I have no idea.

The name Wanda was on the rise from the late 1800s through the 1930s, and Wanda’s increasing popularity gave other Wan-names (e.g., Waneta, Wanita) a boost. This probably helped Wanza a bit. But it doesn’t explain why dozens of babies were suddenly named Wanza in 1915.

I thought I’d found the answer in Mae Van Norman Long’s novel The Wonder Woman, which features a character named Wanza, but the book wasn’t published until 1917 — following the trend, not sparking it.

Any ideas on this one?

Update, Apr. 2025: Looks like Anonymous has solved the mystery, yet again!

Illustration of Wanza Lyttle from "The Wonder Woman" (1915)
Wanza Lyttle

As it turns out, The Wonder Woman had been serialized in the popular women’s magazine McCall’s during 1915. (Here are direct links to the seven installments: June, July, August, September, October, November, and December.)

The character in question, Wanza Lyttle, was a “gay, quick-tempered, happy-hearted” young woman who drove a peddler’s cart. “She was the apple of her father’s eye, the pride of the village, and the delight of the steamboat men on the river.”

A big thanks to Anonymous, who has also helped us figure out Nerine and Zeline recently.

Source: SSA

Second image: Clipping from McCall’s magazine (Jul. 1915)