The story behind Zenobia
From Latin Zenobia, from Ancient Greek Ζηνοβίᾱ (Zēnobíā), name of a third century Queen of Palmyra. Ostensibly from Ζήνων (Zḗnōn), an ancient derivative of Ζεύς (Zeús), but also suggested to be a rendering of the Arabic زَيْنَب (zaynab, “Zaynab”). First recorded as an English given name in Cornwall in 1586.
Other language forms and explanations (1)
Polish entry
Learned borrowing from Latin Zenobia, from Ancient Greek Ζηνοβία (Zēnobía).
Pronunciation
General-American: /zəˈnoʊ.bi.ə/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Received-Pronunciation: /zəˈnəʊ.bi.ə/
- Polish: /zɛˈnɔ.bja/
Popularity
Zenobia ranked #6541 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Zenobia
Zenóbia
From Ancient Greek Ζηνοβῐ́ᾱ (Zēnobĭ́ā). See more at English Zenobia. a female given name from Ancient Greek, of historical usage, equivalent to English Zenobia
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Afrodita
Borrowed from Ancient Greek Ἀφροδίτη (Aphrodítē), usually connected with ἀφρός (aphrós, “sea foam, froth”), but possibly of Semitic origin.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Agrypina
Learned borrowing from Latin Agrippīna.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Alejandra
a female given name from Ancient Greek, equivalent to English Alexandra
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Alexandra
From Ancient Greek Ἀλεξάνδρα (Alexándra), from ἀλέξω (aléxō, “to defend”) + ἀνδρ- (andr-, stem of ἀνήρ (anḗr, “man”)). Feminine form of Alexander (“the man who repels…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Alexia
Feminine form of Alexius.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Zenobia
Balduino
Borrowed from Latin Balduinus, from Frankish *Baldawin, from Proto-Germanic *Balþawiniz (literally “bold friend”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Balduíno
Borrowed from Latin Balduinus, from Frankish *Baldawin, from Proto-Germanic *Balþawiniz (literally “bold friend”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Barbra
A female given name from Latin, a nonstandard spelling of Barbara. Associated with Barbra Streisand, who changed the spelling of her name from Barbara.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Zenobia
Aarón
a male given name from Latin [in turn from Ancient Greek, in turn from Hebrew], equivalent to English Aaron
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abdiasz
Learned borrowing from Latin Abdias, from Ancient Greek Ἀβδίας (Abdías), from Hebrew עובדיה.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Z
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abelus
Borrowed from Ancient Greek Ἅβελ (Hábel), itself from Biblical Hebrew הֶ֫בֶל (heḇel). The vowel, while short by etymology, is shown to be carrying stress by the descended…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length