Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1916

Velva

Gender Girl Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among girls
Babies in 2025
<5
named Velva
How common
–
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1916
139 babies
All-time total
4,274
#2,852 all-time among girls
First recorded
1888
in Social Security records

Velva popularity over time

4,274 babies have been named Velva since 1888, 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
0.050.10.150.218801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1913Girls

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 13 1 – #1,138
1890s 117 12 +800% #718
1900s 285 29 +144% #562
1910s 997 100 +250% #521
1920s 951 95 -5% #669
1930s 697 70 -27% #744
1940s 505 51 -28% #905
1950s 378 38 -25% #1,385
1960s 225 23 -40% #2,035
1970s 87 9 -61% #3,710
1980s 19 2 -78% #8,991
1990s – – – –
2000s – – – –
2010s – – – –
2020s (to 2025) – – – –

The story of Velva

Velva 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 1888, 4,274 American babies have been named Velva. Its peak came in 1916, when 139 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 Velva stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Velva?

The median living Velva is about 74 years old; half are between 65 and 83. An estimated 1,200 people named Velva are alive in the United States today.

median 74 020406080100

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

Velva 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 11 #5,503
1970 17 #3,710
1965 20 #2,829
1960 32 #2,057
1955 36 #1,770
1950 43 #1,410
1945 51 #1,112
1940 64 #905
1935 71 #811
1930 76 #817
1925 84 #817
1920 118 #669
1915 123 #588
1910 56 #549
1905 39 #562
1900 27 #704
1895 13 #926
1890 6 #1,333
1885 – –
1880 – –

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Velva?

The median living Velva is about 74 years old. Half of all living Velvas are between 65 and 83 years old.

How many people named Velva are alive today?

An estimated 1,200 people named Velva are alive in the United States, based on 4,274 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Velva in 2025?

Velva 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 Velva?

4,274 babies have been named Velva in the United States since 1888, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Velva most popular?

Velva peaked in 1916, when 139 newborns received the name.

Is Velva a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Velva rising or falling?

Velva has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Names like Velva

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

Compare Velva with similar names → More names starting with V →