Norma
Coined name of an imaginary Celtic priestess in Bellini's opera Norma (1831).
Every Norma since 1880 — 279,349 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Norma
Norma is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #2,012 in 2025 with 95 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 279,349 American babies have been named Norma. Its peak came in 1931, when 8,796 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 Norma stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Norma 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 | 95 | #2,012 | — | — |
| 2024 | 69 | #2,580 | — | — |
| 2023 | 87 | #2,191 | — | — |
| 2022 | 89 | #2,153 | — | — |
| 2021 | 99 | #1,977 | — | — |
| 2020 | 75 | #2,372 | — | — |
| 2019 | 74 | #2,422 | — | — |
| 2018 | 81 | #2,267 | — | — |
| 2017 | 81 | #2,299 | — | — |
| 2016 | 87 | #2,216 | — | — |
| 2015 | 77 | #2,399 | — | — |
| 2014 | 84 | #2,252 | — | — |
| 2013 | 86 | #2,184 | — | — |
| 2012 | 60 | #2,895 | — | — |
| 2011 | 105 | #1,905 | — | — |
| 2010 | 117 | #1,766 | — | — |
| 2009 | 126 | #1,740 | — | — |
| 2008 | 151 | #1,537 | — | — |
| 2007 | 151 | #1,529 | — | — |
| 2006 | 205 | #1,187 | — | — |
| 2005 | 194 | #1,188 | — | — |
| 2004 | 210 | #1,093 | — | — |
| 2003 | 203 | #1,090 | — | — |
| 2002 | 242 | #928 | — | — |
| 2001 | 266 | #859 | — | — |
| 2000 | 244 | #900 | — | — |
| 1995 | 456 | #528 | — | — |
| 1990 | 494 | #494 | 8 | #6,252 |
| 1985 | 498 | #439 | 12 | #3,741 |
| 1980 | 756 | #320 | 5 | #6,981 |
| 1975 | 1,022 | #236 | 7 | #4,649 |
| 1970 | 1,435 | #218 | 17 | #2,265 |
| 1965 | 2,049 | #171 | 21 | #1,763 |
| 1960 | 2,562 | #162 | 14 | #2,283 |
| 1955 | 2,935 | #137 | 5 | #4,228 |
| 1950 | 3,411 | #104 | 15 | #2,001 |
| 1945 | 3,603 | #74 | 13 | #1,992 |
| 1940 | 5,334 | #43 | 21 | #1,510 |
| 1935 | 6,869 | #29 | 35 | #1,118 |
| 1930 | 8,511 | #25 | 40 | #1,109 |
| 1925 | 6,941 | #34 | 24 | #1,566 |
| 1920 | 3,949 | #69 | 9 | #3,138 |
| 1915 | 1,737 | #118 | — | — |
| 1910 | 486 | #159 | — | — |
| 1905 | 311 | #169 | — | — |
| 1900 | 316 | #174 | — | — |
| 1895 | 219 | #181 | — | — |
| 1890 | 134 | #207 | — | — |
| 1885 | 51 | #277 | — | — |
| 1880 | 32 | #277 | — | — |
Famous people named Norma
- Norma Shearer Actor · 1902–1983
- Norma Aleandro Actor · b. 1936
- Norma Talmadge Actor · 1894–1957
- Norma Bengell Actor · 1935–2013
- Norma Croker Athlete · 1934–2019
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Norma mean?
Coined name of an imaginary Celtic priestess in Bellini's opera Norma (1831).
How popular is the name Norma in 2025?
Norma ranked #2,012 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 95 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Norma?
279,349 babies have been named Norma in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Norma most popular?
Norma peaked in 1931, when 8,796 newborns received the name.
Is Norma a boy or girl name?
Norma is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Norma rising or falling?
Norma has been roughly stable over the past decade.
Who are famous people named Norma?
Well-known people named Norma include Norma Shearer (actor), Norma Aleandro (actor), Norma Talmadge (actor).