Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1919

Zelma

Meaning A female given name from Arabic, variant of Selma Gender Girl · 1% boys Rank 2025 #7,128

A female given name from Arabic, variant of Selma.

Rank 2025
#7,128
among girls · ↓206 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
16
named Zelma
How common
1 in 100,454
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1919
494 babies
All-time total
16,936
#1,184 all-time among girls
First recorded
1880
in Social Security records

Zelma popularity over time

16,936 babies have been named Zelma since 1880, 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
0.250.50.75118801900192019401960198020002020GirlsBoys
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 259 5 264 26 – #370
1890s 795 – 795 80 +201% #261
1900s 1,821 6 1,827 183 +130% #216
1910s 3,899 34 3,933 393 +115% #240
1920s 4,111 38 4,149 415 +5% #296
1930s 2,446 23 2,469 247 -40% #338
1940s 1,570 6 1,576 158 -36% #501
1950s 986 – 986 99 -37% #793
1960s 427 – 427 43 -57% #1,397
1970s 163 – 163 16 -62% #2,688
1980s 78 – 78 8 -52% #5,253
1990s 51 – 51 5 -35% #8,798
2000s 45 – 45 5 -12% #12,999
2010s 92 – 92 9 +104% #7,405
2020s (to 2025) 81 – 81 14 +47% #6,922

The story of Zelma

Zelma is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #7,128 in 2025 with 16 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1880, 16,936 American babies have been named Zelma. Its peak came in 1919, when 494 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 Zelma stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Zelma?

The median living Zelma is about 76 years old; half are between 65 and 85. An estimated 3,500 people named Zelma are alive in the United States today.

median 76 020406080100

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

Zelma 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 16 #7,128 – –
2024 17 #6,922 – –
2023 14 #8,052 – –
2022 12 #9,052 – –
2021 12 #8,969 – –
2020 10 #10,237 – –
2019 14 #8,132 – –
2018 16 #7,405 – –
2017 7 #14,104 – –
2016 13 #8,865 – –
2015 13 #8,926 – –
2014 6 #16,482 – –
2013 5 #19,242 – –
2012 5 #19,498 – –
2011 5 #19,553 – –
2010 8 #13,434 – –
2009 5 #20,161 – –
2008 8 #13,813 – –
2007 5 #20,544 – –
2006 8 #13,584 – –
2005 8 #12,999 – –
2004 – – – –
2003 – – – –
2002 5 #18,069 – –
2001 – – – –
2000 6 #15,019 – –
1995 – – – –
1990 – – – –
1985 10 #6,954 – –
1980 7 #9,093 – –
1975 18 #3,773 – –
1970 18 #3,576 – –
1965 42 #1,767 – –
1960 62 #1,404 – –
1955 104 #983 – –
1950 120 #793 – –
1945 168 #569 – –
1940 190 #501 – –
1935 237 #423 – –
1930 370 #338 5 #4,541
1925 431 #322 – –
1920 448 #308 – –
1915 487 #266 5 #4,388
1910 220 #259 – –
1905 161 #259 – –
1900 131 #287 – –
1895 80 #322 – –
1890 52 #357 – –
1885 18 #519 – –
1880 19 #387 – –

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Zelma?

The median living Zelma is about 76 years old. Half of all living Zelmas are between 65 and 85 years old.

How many people named Zelma are alive today?

An estimated 3,500 people named Zelma are alive in the United States, based on 16,936 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Zelma mean?

A female given name from Arabic, variant of Selma.

How popular is the name Zelma in 2025?

Zelma ranked #7,128 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 16 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Zelma?

16,936 babies have been named Zelma in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Zelma most popular?

Zelma peaked in 1919, when 494 newborns received the name.

Is Zelma a boy or girl name?

Zelma is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 99% of babies with the name.

Is the name Zelma rising or falling?

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

Names like Zelma

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

Compare Zelma with similar names → More names starting with Z →