Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1938

Nelda

Gender Girl Rank 2025 #9,906
Rank 2025
#9,906
among girls · ↓519 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
10
named Nelda
How common
1 in 160,727
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1938
567 babies
All-time total
20,144
#1,061 all-time among girls
First recorded
1884
in Social Security records

Nelda popularity over time

20,144 babies have been named Nelda since 1884, 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
0.190.380.560.7518801900192019401960198020002020GirlsBoys
GirlsBoys

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 Boys Total Per year Change Best rank
1880s 28 – 28 3 – #1,005
1890s 74 – 74 7 +164% #968
1900s 235 – 235 24 +218% #590
1910s 1,130 – 1,130 113 +381% #497
1920s 3,170 – 3,170 317 +181% #312
1930s 4,931 5 4,936 494 +56% #264
1940s 4,870 – 4,870 487 -1% #268
1950s 3,211 – 3,211 321 -34% #414
1960s 1,488 – 1,488 149 -54% #662
1970s 536 – 536 54 -64% #1,297
1980s 254 – 254 25 -53% #2,315
1990s 99 – 99 10 -61% #6,542
2000s 57 – 57 6 -42% #10,219
2010s 28 – 28 3 -51% #15,077
2020s (to 2025) 28 – 28 5 +67% #9,387

The story of Nelda

Nelda is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #9,906 in 2025 with 10 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1884, 20,144 American babies have been named Nelda. Its peak came in 1938, when 567 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1930s.

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

How old are people named Nelda?

The median living Nelda is about 75 years old; half are between 66 and 83. An estimated 9,600 people named Nelda are alive in the United States today.

median 75 020406080100

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

Nelda year by year

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

Year Girls Girls rank Boys Boys rank
2025 10 #9,906 – –
2024 11 #9,387 – –
2023 – – – –
2022 7 #13,198 – –
2021 – – – –
2020 – – – –
2019 6 #15,077 – –
2018 6 #15,143 – –
2017 5 #17,707 – –
2016 – – – –
2015 6 #15,879 – –
2014 5 #18,470 – –
2013 – – – –
2012 – – – –
2011 – – – –
2010 – – – –
2009 – – – –
2008 – – – –
2007 6 #17,010 – –
2006 9 #12,143 – –
2005 8 #12,692 – –
2004 5 #18,037 – –
2003 10 #10,219 – –
2002 5 #17,357 – –
2001 7 #13,078 – –
2000 7 #12,764 – –
1995 10 #8,537 – –
1990 7 #11,019 – –
1985 17 #4,586 – –
1980 32 #2,843 – –
1975 56 #1,702 – –
1970 74 #1,417 – –
1965 130 #877 – –
1960 235 #662 – –
1955 361 #476 – –
1950 375 #414 – –
1945 451 #320 – –
1940 540 #268 – –
1935 473 #281 5 #4,009
1930 434 #317 – –
1925 315 #385 – –
1920 224 #451 – –
1915 146 #521 – –
1910 29 #808 – –
1905 25 #726 – –
1900 27 #698 – –
1895 12 #968 – –
1890 – – – –
1885 – – – –
1880 – – – –

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Nelda?

The median living Nelda is about 75 years old. Half of all living Neldas are between 66 and 83 years old.

How many people named Nelda are alive today?

An estimated 9,600 people named Nelda are alive in the United States, based on 20,144 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Nelda in 2025?

Nelda ranked #9,906 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 10 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Nelda?

20,144 babies have been named Nelda in the United States since 1884, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Nelda most popular?

Nelda peaked in 1938, when 567 newborns received the name.

Is Nelda a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Nelda rising or falling?

Nelda is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Names like Nelda

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

Compare Nelda with similar names → More names starting with N →