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.
My 3 year old is a Zinnia. I love her name and it suits her very well. I love that it is so unique and everyone comments on how lovely it is and those who know it is a flower are always delighted. We call her Zinn or Zin-Zin for short. It goes with my son’s name, which starts with an X.
Glad to hear the name wears well!
I love the name Zinnia but my husband has vetoed it on the basis that it rhymes with (sorry if this ruins it for anyone else) tinea. I still love it though!
I can’t get past the Matilda association. I read the novel many years ago, and for a while my little sister watched the movie about once a week! Nope, I just can’t do it. And yes, Petunia Dursley most definitely reminded me of Zinnia Wormwood.
Hmm, I really like Zinnia! Much more modern and punchy than Daisy, Olive, Rose, Fern or Iris. More unique than Heather, Holly, Lily or Ivy. More delicate than Dahlia and Saffron.
I’m with Mir, though: I grew up pronouncing this as ZEEN-yah, not ZIN-ee-ah. Either way is still lovely.
I read this post on my lunch hour, but didn’t have time to comment until now.
I couldn’t figure out why I didn’t care for Zinnia, until I got back to work…it reminds me of White Zinfandel. But then, I work for a wine importer, so most people won’t make that connection.
This name is so pretty! I don’t know what it is about the name, but it just sounds like a bell. When I asked my mom if she like the name, she brought up a person we knew named Xenia, which, admittedly, is very familiar, but doesn’t hold the same appeal for me.
I love this name! I read Chasing Redbird when I was fairly little and the more I think about it, the more I like it. I also like Saffron (maybe a bit more than Zinnia; there’s this hilarious children’s series that I grew up with about a family called the Cassons, and their second-eldest is named Saffron.)
And, it’s not on the top 1000!