Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1935

Nelva

Gender Girl Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among girls
Babies in 2025
<5
named Nelva
How common
–
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1935
44 babies
All-time total
1,139
#6,852 all-time among girls
First recorded
1889
in Social Security records

Nelva popularity over time

1,139 babies have been named Nelva since 1889, 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 1935Girls

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 5 1 – #1,427
1890s – – – –
1900s 16 2 – #1,565
1910s 133 13 +731% #1,423
1920s 234 23 +76% #1,344
1930s 328 33 +40% #1,050
1940s 217 22 -34% #1,213
1950s 132 13 -39% #2,450
1960s 61 6 -54% #4,458
1970s 13 1 -79% #7,061
1980s – – – –
1990s – – – –
2000s – – – –
2010s – – – –
2020s (to 2025) – – – –

The story of Nelva

Nelva 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 1889, 1,139 American babies have been named Nelva. Its peak came in 1935, when 44 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 Nelva stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Nelva?

The median living Nelva is about 77 years old; half are between 69 and 85. An estimated 400 people named Nelva are alive in the United States today.

median 77 020406080100

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

Nelva 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 5 #7,221
1960 7 #5,544
1955 10 #3,978
1950 12 #3,177
1945 14 #2,418
1940 37 #1,213
1935 44 #1,050
1930 34 #1,312
1925 29 #1,567
1920 14 #2,554
1915 18 #1,862
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Nelva?

The median living Nelva is about 77 years old. Half of all living Nelvas are between 69 and 85 years old.

How many people named Nelva are alive today?

An estimated 400 people named Nelva are alive in the United States, based on 1,139 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Nelva in 2025?

Nelva 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 Nelva?

1,139 babies have been named Nelva in the United States since 1889, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Nelva most popular?

Nelva peaked in 1935, when 44 newborns received the name.

Is Nelva a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Nelva rising or falling?

Nelva has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Names like Nelva

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

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