Elma

#4,352 for girls in 2025, 32 births · Last seen for boys in 1957 at #3,024
Given to girls 97.8% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1901 · 189 births
Debut · girls
28 births
In top 100 · girls
never
of 146 years
Total births · girls
21,703
since 1880

Elma over time

girls

Rank among girls' names. Elma has never cracked the top 200 here.

#1#10#100#1,000#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201925peak #209, 1901girls
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#4,35232—
2024#4,56030—
2023#5,39023—
2022#5,17225—
2021#4,32632—
2020#6,32518—
2019#4,90927—
2018#4,35732—
2017#4,38432—
2016#4,99027—
2015#4,48831—
2014#5,02527—
2013#5,64423—
2012#4,21635—
2011#4,35333—
2010#4,60831—
2009#4,10737—
2008#4,17937—
2007#3,98339—
2006#3,99237—
2005#3,25747—
2004#3,81937—
2003#2,95651—
2002#3,39440—
2001#2,96348—
2000#3,45338—
1999#3,44336—
1998#5,58318—
1997#6,84413—
1996#4,88320—
1995#5,01919—
1994#5,44517—
1993#5,41917—
1992#5,48417—
1991#6,97612—
1990#6,13114—
1989#4,35821—
1988#4,49619—
1987#6,78810—
1986#5,45913—
1985#3,73022—
1984#3,14427—
1983#3,94919—
1982#3,53023—
1981#3,85920—
1980#3,60922—
1979#3,14726—
1978#2,68031—
1977#3,26723—
1976#2,43933—
1975#2,61229—
1974#2,25435—
1973#2,30933—
1972#1,97541—
1971#1,93744—
1970#2,26734—
1969#1,78447—
1968#1,62550—
1967#1,61749—
1966#1,63247—
1965#1,35066—
1964#1,43362—
1963#1,26276—
1962#1,28374—
1961#1,30572—
1960#1,020111—
1959#1,13089—
1958#1,000108—
1957#1,07294#3,0248
1956#1,007103—
1955#978104—
1954#897114—
1953#809129—
1952#791130—
1951#794125#3,3646
1950#717143#3,3296
1949#683150#2,8028
1948#661159#3,0107
1947#643167#3,7335
1946#624162—
1945#547179#3,3385
1944#576162#1,98813
1943#517208—
1942#495226#2,7128
1941#501193#1,99713
1940#470204#2,6718
1939#469204#2,28810
1938#428244#2,18511
1937#436225#1,75616
1936#396258#2,30110
1935#393267#2,5299
1934#375285#2,39310
1933#369297#2,5429
1932#373299#2,8498
1931#339352#2,8648
1930#345362#2,7819
1929#341360#2,31712
1928#321424#1,82218
1927#308465#1,79619
1926#313449#1,60522
1925#301487#1,93517
1924#290522#2,22914
1923#289494#1,87418
1922#268579#2,34713
1921#271610#1,90418
1920#266600#1,74720
1919#262594#2,06315
1918#249659#2,07315
1917#256580#2,7329
1916#246622#1,45923
1915#245575#2,18412
1914#242484#2,10110
1913#245388#1,49713
1912#233375#1,52711
1911#248252#1,5376
1910#234273—
1909#227248—
1908#234208—
1907#219228—
1906#227193—
1905#243171#1,2335
1904#248160—
1903#235162—
1902#210199—
1901#209189—
1900#235182—
1899#238136—
1898#221172—
1897#218156—
1896#219160#9826
1895#234137—
1894#237127—
1893#230129—
1892#248112—
1891#223118—
1890#234108—
1889#23598—
1888#23497—
1887#24673—
1886#22282—
1885#22776—
1884#25359—
1883#27442—
1882#25047—
1881#24741—
1880#29428—
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Elma was already there! It came in at #294, and was given to 28 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 1986–1987, when fewer than 14 girls a year got the name.

Where Elma is popular in 1925

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedNHWashington: #249 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 1,960 girlsWAIdaho: #150 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 603 girlsIDMontana: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: #199 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 1,235 girlsNDMinnesota: #312 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 3,121 girlsMNIllinois: #395 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 5,007 girlsILWisconsin: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedWIMichigan: #219 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 1,779 girlsMINew York: #354 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 4,765 girlsNYMassachusetts: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedRIOregon: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedSDIowa: #346 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 3,496 girlsIAIndiana: #246 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 2,238 girlsINOhio: #255 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 2,301 girlsOHPennsylvania: #252 for girls · 35 births · 1 in 2,707 girlsPANew Jersey: #298 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 3,889 girlsNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #411 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 4,101 girlsCAUtah: #183 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 829 girlsUTColorado: #263 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 1,756 girlsCONebraska: #293 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 2,367 girlsNEMissouri: #254 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 1,840 girlsMOKentucky: #216 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 1,363 girlsKYWest Virginia: #223 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 1,468 girlsWVVirginia: #317 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 3,084 girlsVAMaryland: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedDEArizona: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedNMKansas: #203 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,226 girlsKSArkansas: #381 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 2,718 girlsARTennessee: #218 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 1,386 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #215 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 1,370 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #245 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,849 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #307 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,989 girlsOKLouisiana: #228 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 1,132 girlsLAMississippi: #252 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 1,543 girlsMSAlabama: #333 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 2,999 girlsALGeorgia: #252 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 1,833 girlsGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedHITexas: #331 for girls · 35 births · 1 in 1,763 girlsTXFlorida: #242 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 1,357 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Idaho#150 · 1 in 603
  2. Utah#183 · 1 in 829
  3. North Dakota#199 · 1 in 1,235
  4. Kansas#203 · 1 in 1,226
  5. North Carolina#215 · 1 in 1,370

Best ever in a state: #47 in Idaho, 1910.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Idaho#15061 in 603
Utah#18361 in 829
North Dakota#19951 in 1,235
Kansas#203131 in 1,226
North Carolina#215291 in 1,370
Kentucky#216221 in 1,363
Tennessee#218211 in 1,386
Michigan#219231 in 1,779
West Virginia#223141 in 1,468
Louisiana#228211 in 1,132
Florida#242111 in 1,357
South Carolina#245131 in 1,849
Indiana#246121 in 2,238
Washington#24951 in 1,960
Georgia#252191 in 1,833
Mississippi#252151 in 1,543
Pennsylvania#252351 in 2,707
Missouri#254171 in 1,840
Ohio#255241 in 2,301
Colorado#26351 in 1,756
Nebraska#29351 in 2,367
New Jersey#29881 in 3,889
Oklahoma#307131 in 1,989
Minnesota#31271 in 3,121
Virginia#31791 in 3,084
Texas#331351 in 1,763
Alabama#333111 in 2,999
Iowa#34661 in 3,496
New York#354211 in 4,765
Arkansas#38181 in 2,718
Illinois#395121 in 5,007
California#41191 in 4,101
Alaska———
Arizona———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Hawaii———
Maine———
Maryland———
Massachusetts———
Montana———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Mexico———
Oregon———
Rhode Island———
South Dakota———
Vermont———
Wisconsin———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Elma
Momentum · girls
Rising
  • 208 spots since 2024 (#4,560 → #4,352)
  • 1,973 spots since 2020 (#6,325 → #4,352)
  • 136 spots since 2015 (#4,488 → #4,352)
  • Biggest jump: 72 spots in 1958 (#1,072 → #1,000)
  • Biggest drop: 130 spots in 1959 (#1,000 → #1,130)
Rise & fade · girls
21 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1901 at #209 (189 births)
  • Births halved by 1957, 56 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 1,000 for 77 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: never
  • Top 1,000: 77 yrs · run 1880–1955
Share of babies · girls
1 in 1,266
  • Highest: 1 in 1,266 girls born in 1901 were named Elma (0.08%)
  • Latest: 1 in 50,227 girls born in 2025 (0.00%)
Era · girls
The 1920s
  • 23.0% of all girls named Elma (4,990) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s643#222 (1886)#248
1890s1,355#218 (1897)#230
1900s1,940#209 (1901)#229
1910s4,802#233 (1912)#246
1920s4,990#266 (1920)#297
1930s2,793#339 (1931)#392
1940s1,810#470 (1940)#572
1950s1,139#717 (1950)#920
1960s654#1,020 (1960)#1,431
1970s329#1,937 (1971)#2,489
1980s196#3,144 (1984)#4,292
1990s183#3,443 (1999)#5,523
2000s411#2,956 (2003)#3,610
2010s298#4,216 (2012)#4,697
2020s160#4,326 (2021)#5,021

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Elma in 1925

girls
#301
487 births · 1 in 2,500 girls
boys
#1,935
17 births · 1 in 65,642 boys

Top girls' names in 1925

  1. #1Mary70,586
  2. #2Dorothy38,570
  3. #3Betty32,812
  4. #4Helen29,173
  5. #5Margaret24,463
  6. #6Ruth22,247
  7. #7Virginia17,490
  8. #8Doris16,075
  9. #9Mildred14,453
  10. #10Elizabeth13,936
  11. #301Elma487

Top boys' names in 1925

  1. #1Robert60,895
  2. #2John57,195
  3. #3William53,310
  4. #4James52,680
  5. #5Charles29,580
  6. #6George26,560
  7. #7Joseph24,613
  8. #8Richard23,269
  9. #9Edward20,090
  10. #10Donald19,193
  11. #1,935Elma17
More about 1925

girls

1,217,384 girls got a published name in 1925; 1 in 2,500 of them was named Elma, which outranked 94.8% of the 5,771 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.0% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Elma
  1. #298Aileen503
  2. #299Myra502
  3. #300Helene488
  4. #301Elma487
  5. #302Deloris485
  6. #303Carmella482
  7. #304Matilda474
Biggest movers since 1924
Risers
  1. ↑ 605Nanette#1,475 → #870
  2. ↑ 417Paulina#1,258 → #841
  3. ↑ 353Estela#1,258 → #905
  4. ↑ 323Delois#1,123 → #800
  5. ↑ 313Veola#1,301 → #988
Fallers
  1. ↓ 610Kathlyn#999 → #1,609
  2. ↓ 396Izetta#951 → #1,347
  3. ↓ 355Loma#941 → #1,296
  4. ↓ 345Phylis#880 → #1,225
  5. ↓ 309Eris#728 → #1,037

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,115,919 boys got a published name in 1925; 1 in 65,642 of them was named Elma, which outranked 60.2% of the 4,867 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 32.9% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Elma
  1. #1,870Walden18
  2. #1,870Young18
  3. #1,870Yutaka18
  4. #1,935Elma17
  5. #1,935Aden17
  6. #1,935Alphonzo17
  7. #1,935Berl17
  8. #2,012Ardis16
  9. #2,012Bartlett16
  10. #2,012Bentley16

Tied with 76 names at #1,935; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1924
Risers
  1. ↑ 548Okey#1,532 → #984
  2. ↑ 494Eddy#1,492 → #998
  3. ↑ 422Terrence#1,223 → #801
  4. ↑ 371Hughie#1,355 → #984
  5. ↑ 363Rexford#1,287 → #924
Fallers
  1. ↓ 444Baxter#916 → #1,360
  2. ↓ 429Adelbert#817 → #1,246
  3. ↓ 407Jonnie#925 → #1,332
  4. ↓ 406Faustino#984 → #1,390
  5. ↓ 387Deward#859 → #1,246

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1925 →