The baby name Zinnia comes straight from the garden, ready to share the playground with Marigold and Rose.
Thanks to Paul for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME ZINNIA MEAN?
Like so many flowers, zinnias were named for a botanist. In this case, it’s Johann Gottfried ZInn, who lived and worked during the 1700s.
His surname comes from the German word for tin, and indicates a metalworker.
Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus chose to honor Zinn with the flower name. Linnaeus cataloged living things, inventing the system we now call binomial nomenclature.
In a literal sense, maybe zinnia means tin. Except it really means gorgeous, showy flower.
ZINNIA FLOWERS
There are nearly two dozens species of zinnias, along with many more cultivars, and they’re part of the aster family.
Zinnias are most common in Mexico, but range from the American Southwest to South America. Popular with butterflies and hummingbirds, they’ve become favorites in gardens.
Colorful, vibrant, and resilient, the flowers bloom all summer long.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME ZINNIA?
The baby name Zinnia has never appeared in the US Top 1000.
It first debuted in the US Social Security Administration in 1917, when six girls received the name. But it’s been quietly rising in use since the 1960s.
As of 2023, 175 girls were named Zinnia – a new high.
ZINNA IN BLOOM
Zinnia may be trending as a girl’s name, but it’s still very new.
References to Zinnia over the last century or so include:
- A ship in the Royal Navy known as HMS Zinnia, active during World War I, as well as a second ship daring to World War II.
- Roald Dahl gave the name to the mother in Matilda, Mrs. Zinnia Wormwood. While she wasn’t as awful as her husband, it’s not exactly a positive association for the name.
- Newberry Medal-winning author Sharon Creech penned Chasing Redbird in 1995. Her Zinnia is the central character – but most often answers to the nickname Zinny. It may not be as famous, but it’s far more positive.
- Australian model turned environmental advocate Zinnia Kumar.
Another factor? Girls’ names ending with IA are style stars in the twenty-first century, from chart-toppers like Sophia and Amelia to more recent rising names, like Ophelia and Thalia.
The baby name Zinnia may be rare, but with our love of florals – and this flower’s bold, appealing style – there’s every reason to think it would wear beautifully.
What do you think of the baby name Zinnia?
First published on May 7, 2010, this post was revised on August 30, 2024.
I love Zinnia! The flowers are awesome, and it’s just a beautiful word! I also love Zinna as a name, though it appears to just be a misspelling of Zinnia. I would use Zinnia, and Azalea.
Oh, my favorite Z-name by a mile! Our naming “theme” if you can call it that is not to repeat first initials among our children. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but now that we have four, we’re starting to realize if we keep having children, this could become more restrictive than the Duggars’ J-theme as more and more of the assessible letters get used up! Anyway, Zinnia could get used here someday, and Xanthe, and Quincy (only if #5 happens to be a boy). The really tough one would be Y… but who’s having 26 kids? Not me 🙂
I love Zinnia. I just love unusual nature names, particularly Azalea, Magnolia, Saffron and Marigold. My friend and I were obsessed with Sharon Creech books when we were in 5th grade. We read every chapter book of hers. That’s how I first came across Zinnia. Zinny is cute. Zia or Nia could work too.
I love Zinnia pronounced ZINN-ee-ah, but growing up, my mom always pronounced the flowers ZEEN-yahs, which I don’t like as much. I’m not sure if I can pronounce it correctly in my mind, and then I think there would forever be pronunciation issues. Maybe it was just my mom, though.
My daughter is named Zinnia, and we hear both pronunciations. I think it’s regional. She is ZINN-ee-uh (or Zin) to us!
The pronunciation was ZEEN-yahs in the South during the 50’s and 60’s were I grew
up loving all my relatives gardens. It was later in Ohio in the 90’s a much newer generation was calling them ZINN-yahs.
I love when I find a baby Zinnia when searching through BA’s. 🙂
I love love love Zinnia. She is one of my favorites.
I love Zinnia and tried to fit it (or Azalea) in as an mn when we didn’t yet know what we were having… but both seemed too long with the fns we’d landed on so Fern and Ivy became the mns of choice… and then it was moot when we got the word we were getting Ollie! But I think Zinnia is fun and very wearable.
Photoquilty – nice photo! That carseat looks familiar! And Linden is one of my very favorite botanical names, too… it’s pretty, tailored and gives a leafy green street sort of feeling to me.
I don’t know about this one. When it comes to nature names, I’d be more likely to use Linden, Aven, or Saffron. I especially like Saffron.
Love your new picture – what darling boys!
Thanks so much!
Great picture !
I’m really surprised that you go for Linden & Saffron. They seem like outliers to what you normally appear to like. It’s a nice surprise !
Aww, thanks.
Yeah, I don’t know why those names appeal to me. I’ve liked Saffron since Absolutely Fabulous was on the air. It’s irrelevant, though, as my husband is waaaaay too traditional – and we’re done having kids.
Oh well, there’s always animals . And if you write, you could use the names.Who knows, maybe you’ll be one of those couples who have a surprise when their kids go off to college ! 🙂
God forbid! LOL
I just did the math – I’ll be 46 and 50 when my children enter college. A new baby would be nothing short of a miracle!
I love Zinnia!!! The beautiful photo you chose to accompany this post makes me love it even more. The NN Nia could bring is down to earth for noon-believers. This post actually sparked something in my brain though. When I read about Zin = Tin it made me think it would make a cute name for a child born on your 10th year of marriage. I wonder if there exists a compiled list matching names w/ traditional anniversary gifts. It’s early but I’m quite fond of this idea. . .
I like Zinnea. I don’t like it enough to actually consider a future child, but it’d awesome on another person’s child. 🙂 I’d probably call her Zins or ZinZins as a nn.
I actually know of a young Zenobia (in her 20s) and there’s Zuraida which also fits in with the names you mentioned. The names you mentioned make me think of Zuraida Jardine. Also, what about Poppy & Daphne !? I think Daphne, Zinnia & Matilda would be an awesome sibset.
Also, I like the picture 🙂 It’s fun to see Etienne as a LN, because I’m used to seeing it as a FN . Nice name to suggest for NOTD Paul !