Fun Facts About the Name Zendaya
- More than 3 thousand babies named Zendaya: U.S. records list 3,867 babies given the name Zendaya from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Zendaya Mean?
Zendaya is a name of Shona origin, from the Bantu language of the Shona people of Zimbabwe. It is generally explained as meaning "to give thanks" or "thankful," based on the Shona verb tenda, "to thank." The name is closely related to the Shona name Tendai, usually rendered "be thankful" or "give thanks." The internal make-up of Zendaya - especially the opening element Ze- - is not documented, so it is safest to describe it as a Shona name formed from the same thanking root as Tendai rather than as a fully traceable compound with a known literal translation. Whether the name is traditional in Zimbabwe or a more recent formation from familiar Shona vocabulary is not clear.
Zendaya Name History & Origins
Zendaya belongs to a family of Shona personal names built on tenda, "to thank." The best-known relative is Tendai, a common Zimbabwean name that expresses gratitude, and Shona naming frequently draws on verbs and short phrases in this way. The name Zendaya itself is not well attested in older Zimbabwean records, and no documented chain of earlier forms shows how it developed; its exact relationship to Tendai is uncertain.
The name became widely known outside southern Africa in the 2010s through the American actress and singer Zendaya, whose father has described the name as Shona and as meaning "to give thanks." That exposure carried the name to audiences in the United States and elsewhere, where it is now used alongside its southern African background. The spelling and stress used in English follow the bearer's own pronunciation, zen-DAY-uh.
How Popular is the Name Zendaya?
Zendaya recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2022. Its best rank was #679 in 2022.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,189 | 195 | 0.0121% |
| 2024 | #942 | 279 | 0.0173% |
| 2023 | #833 | 330 | 0.0206% |
| 2022 | #679 | 430 | 0.0262% |
| 2021 | #873 | 313 | 0.0191% |
| 2020 | #965 | 264 | 0.0163% |
| 2019 | #995 | 260 | 0.0155% |
| 2018 | #1,063 | 241 | 0.0142% |
| 2017 | #1,000 | 260 | 0.0151% |
| 2016 | #913 | 304 | 0.0172% |
| 2015 | #788 | 358 | 0.0201% |
| 2014 | #886 | 307 | 0.0172% |
| 2013 | #1,307 | 180 | 0.0103% |
| 2012 | #1,732 | 120 | 0.0068% |
| 2011 | #5,356 | 26 | 0.0015% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Zendaya Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have aspiration and inspiration, hope and guidance. Since you are intuitive and perceptive and you understand human nature. You have the power to achieve. Diplomacy and discretion make you a good mediator. You are inspired, introspective, and have a good understanding of the human heart. You can have the ability to commercialize your artistic talents successfully. You are often a mystery to others and to yourself. You are always reaching for something higher, without exactly knowing what that "higher" is. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.
✦ Zendaya's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Zendaya's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.