Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1926

Nelma

Gender Girl Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among girls
Babies in 2025
<5
named Nelma
How common
–
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1926
50 babies
All-time total
1,229
#6,505 all-time among girls
First recorded
1907
in Social Security records

Nelma popularity over time

1,229 babies have been named Nelma since 1907, 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
0.010.030.040.0518801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1926Girls

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 10 1 – #2,289
1910s 184 18 +1740% #1,290
1920s 415 42 +126% #1,064
1930s 336 34 -19% #1,144
1940s 195 20 -42% #1,440
1950s 82 8 -58% #3,004
1960s 7 1 -91% #5,543
1970s – – – –
1980s – – – –
1990s – – – –
2000s – – – –
2010s – – – –
2020s (to 2025) – – – –

The story of Nelma

Nelma 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, 1,229 American babies have been named Nelma. Its peak came in 1926, when 50 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 Nelma stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Nelma?

The median living Nelma is about 83 years old; half are between 76 and 88. An estimated 300 people named Nelma are alive in the United States today.

median 83 020406080100

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

Nelma 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 7 #5,543
1955 9 #4,291
1950 13 #3,004
1945 19 #1,975
1940 25 #1,577
1935 32 #1,297
1930 37 #1,246
1925 45 #1,156
1920 30 #1,502
1915 17 #1,938
1910 8 #1,890
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Nelma?

The median living Nelma is about 83 years old. Half of all living Nelmas are between 76 and 88 years old.

How many people named Nelma are alive today?

An estimated 300 people named Nelma are alive in the United States, based on 1,229 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Nelma in 2025?

Nelma 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 Nelma?

1,229 babies have been named Nelma in the United States since 1907, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Nelma most popular?

Nelma peaked in 1926, when 50 newborns received the name.

Is Nelma a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Nelma rising or falling?

Nelma has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Names like Nelma

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

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