Belma: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	5	1	–	#1,620
1900s	23	2	+360%	#1,788
1910s	104	10	+352%	#1,789
1920s	101	10	-3%	#2,396
1930s	58	6	-43%	#2,999
1940s	26	3	-55%	#3,268
1950s	78	8	+200%	#3,030
1960s	65	7	-17%	#4,285
1970s	21	2	-68%	#6,052
1980s	8	1	-62%	#7,823
1990s	13	1	+63%	#7,301
2000s	92	9	+608%	#6,351
2010s	41	4	-55%	#9,318
2020s (to 2025)	5	1	-80%	#15,632

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

#1,620

1900s

+360%

#1,788

1910s

104

+352%

#1,789

1920s

101

-3%

#2,396

1930s

-43%

#2,999

1940s

-55%

#3,268

1950s

+200%

#3,030

1960s

-17%

#4,285

1970s

-68%

#6,052

1980s

-62%

#7,823

1990s

+63%

#7,301

2000s

+608%

#6,351

2010s

-55%

#9,318

2020s (to 2025)

-80%

#15,632

The story of Belma

Belma is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1895, 640 American babies have been named Belma. Its peak came in 1918, when 18 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1910s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Belma stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Belma?

The median living Belma is about 52 years old; half are between 19 and 68. An estimated 300 people named Belma are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Belma year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	–	–
2024	–	–
2023	–	–
2022	–	–
2021	5	#15,632
2020	–	–
2019	5	#15,912
2018	–	–
2017	–	–
2016	–	–
2015	–	–
2014	6	#14,867
2013	–	–
2012	7	#13,723
2011	11	#9,826
2010	12	#9,318
2009	6	#15,533
2008	7	#14,070
2007	14	#8,597
2006	13	#8,799
2005	13	#8,409
2004	5	#16,467
2003	18	#6,351
2002	11	#8,930
2001	–	–
2000	5	#15,366
1995	–	–
1990	–	–
1985	–	–
1980	–	–
1975	–	–
1970	–	–
1965	6	#5,861
1960	8	#4,798
1955	9	#4,093
1950	8	#3,984
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	5	#4,621
1925	7	#4,074
1920	9	#3,368
1915	17	#1,890
1910	8	#1,789
1905	5	#1,963
1900	–	–
1895	5	#1,620
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Belma, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Belma?

The median living Belma is about 52 years old. Half of all living Belmas are between 19 and 68 years old.

How many people named Belma are alive today?

An estimated 300 people named Belma are alive in the United States, based on 640 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Belma in 2025?

Belma did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Belma?

640 babies have been named Belma in the United States since 1895, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Belma most popular?

Belma peaked in 1918, when 18 newborns received the name.

Is Belma a boy or girl name?

Belma is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Belma rising or falling?

Belma is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Belma

Belma popularity over time

The story of Belma

How old are people named Belma?

Belma year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Belma