Nelma

Girl name

Nelma has been given to 1,229 babies in the U.S. since 1907. It peaked in 1926.

Popularity over time births per year, 1880–2025

Hover or tap the chart to read any year.

Total babies

1,229

Peak year

1926 (50 babies)

Rank in 2025

Below top 1000

First recorded

1907

10-year trend

New / returning

Gender split

All girls

Spellings & variants

Names one letter away from Nelma — alternate spellings parents actually use.

Velmagirl

87,202 babies since 1880

Selmagirl

27,202 babies since 1880

Elmagirl

22,186 babies since 1880

Neldagirl

20,144 babies since 1884

Zelmagirl

16,936 babies since 1880

Delmagirl

9,901 babies since 1884

Names with a similar vibe

Same primary gender, peaked around the same years, and roughly as common as Nelma.

Brownieunisex

1,231 babies since 1892

Vinitagirl

1,227 babies since 1900

Geanunisex

1,234 babies since 1910

Lavenagirl

1,223 babies since 1892

Willodeangirl

1,237 babies since 1914

Doreathagirl

1,238 babies since 1905

Paraleegirl

1,215 babies since 1880

Claritagirl

1,244 babies since 1892

FAQ

How popular is the name Nelma?

Nelma has been given to 1,229 babies in the U.S. since 1907. It ranked below the top 1000 in 2025.

When did the name Nelma peak?

Nelma peaked in 1926, when 50 babies were given the name.

Is Nelma a girl or boy name?

Nelma is primarily a girl name (100% of babies named Nelma are girls).

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