Emelda: 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	–	–	–	–
1900s	20	2	–	#1,171
1910s	153	15	+665%	#1,588
1920s	288	29	+88%	#1,365
1930s	218	22	-24%	#1,358
1940s	190	19	-13%	#1,705
1950s	194	19	+2%	#2,071
1960s	131	13	-32%	#2,842
1970s	103	10	-21%	#3,469
1980s	73	7	-29%	#5,929
1990s	10	1	-86%	#13,625
2000s	5	1	-50%	#16,095
2010s	11	1	+120%	#15,062
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

#1,171

1910s

153

+665%

#1,588

1920s

288

+88%

#1,365

1930s

218

-24%

#1,358

1940s

190

-13%

#1,705

1950s

194

+2%

#2,071

1960s

131

-32%

#2,842

1970s

103

-21%

#3,469

1980s

-29%

#5,929

1990s

-86%

#13,625

2000s

-50%

#16,095

2010s

+120%

#15,062

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Emelda

Emelda 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 1907, 1,396 American babies have been named Emelda. Its peak came in 1926, when 34 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1920s.

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 Emelda stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Emelda?

The median living Emelda is about 67 years old; half are between 53 and 77. An estimated 700 people named Emelda 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.

Emelda 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	–	–
2020	–	–
2019	5	#16,267
2018	–	–
2017	–	–
2016	–	–
2015	6	#15,062
2014	–	–
2013	–	–
2012	–	–
2011	–	–
2010	–	–
2009	–	–
2008	–	–
2007	–	–
2006	–	–
2005	–	–
2004	–	–
2003	–	–
2002	–	–
2001	5	#16,095
2000	–	–
1995	–	–
1990	5	#13,625
1985	7	#8,613
1980	10	#6,431
1975	13	#4,666
1970	18	#3,469
1965	14	#3,454
1960	8	#4,889
1955	24	#2,235
1950	22	#2,071
1945	11	#2,786
1940	22	#1,705
1935	24	#1,519
1930	24	#1,625
1925	25	#1,709
1920	28	#1,561
1915	22	#1,588
1910	9	#1,670
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Emelda?

The median living Emelda is about 67 years old. Half of all living Emeldas are between 53 and 77 years old.

How many people named Emelda are alive today?

An estimated 700 people named Emelda are alive in the United States, based on 1,396 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Emelda in 2025?

Emelda 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 Emelda?

1,396 babies have been named Emelda in the United States since 1907, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Emelda most popular?

Emelda peaked in 1926, when 34 newborns received the name.

Is Emelda a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Emelda rising or falling?

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

Emelda

Emelda popularity over time

The story of Emelda

How old are people named Emelda?

Emelda year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Emelda