Helma: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

–

among girls

Babies in 2025

named Helma

How common

–

girls born in 2025

Peak year

1916

25 babies

All-time total

595

#10,618 all-time among girls

First recorded

1880

in Social Security records

Helma popularity over time

595 babies have been named Helma since 1880, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

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	41	4	–	#786
1890s	115	12	+180%	#764
1900s	95	10	-17%	#1,028
1910s	154	15	+62%	#1,501
1920s	125	13	-19%	#1,948
1930s	49	5	-61%	#3,175
1940s	11	1	-78%	#4,151
1950s	5	1	-55%	#5,883
1960s	–	–	–	–
1970s	–	–	–	–
1980s	–	–	–	–
1990s	–	–	–	–
2000s	–	–	–	–
2010s	–	–	–	–
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–

The story of Helma

Helma 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 1880, 595 American babies have been named Helma. Its peak came in 1916, when 25 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 Helma stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

Helma 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	–	–
2018	–	–
2017	–	–
2016	–	–
2015	–	–
2014	–	–
2013	–	–
2012	–	–
2011	–	–
2010	–	–
2009	–	–
2008	–	–
2007	–	–
2006	–	–
2005	–	–
2004	–	–
2003	–	–
2002	–	–
2001	–	–
2000	–	–
1995	–	–
1990	–	–
1985	–	–
1980	–	–
1975	–	–
1970	–	–
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	9	#3,175
1925	10	#3,214
1920	14	#2,512
1915	23	#1,542
1910	7	#2,016
1905	10	#1,264
1900	7	#1,638
1895	15	#836
1890	12	#804
1885	8	#818
1880	6	#786

Famous people named Helma

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Helma Sanders-Brahms German film director, screenwriter, producer and actress (1940–2014) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How popular is the name Helma in 2025?

Helma 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 Helma?

595 babies have been named Helma in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Helma most popular?

Helma peaked in 1916, when 25 newborns received the name.

Is Helma a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Helma rising or falling?

Helma has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Helma?

Well-known people named Helma include Helma Sanders-Brahms (film director).

Names like Helma

Names that sound and feel close to Helma: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Helma with similar names → More names starting with H →