Erma

#5,238 for girls in 2025, 24 births · Last seen for boys in 1951 at #3,714
Given to girls 99.6% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1911 · 595 births
Debut · girls
30 births
In top 100 · girls
never
of 146 years
Total births · girls
54,949
since 1880

Erma over time

girls

Rank among girls' names. Erma has never cracked the top 100 here.

#1#10#100#1,000#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201931peak #138, 1911girls
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#5,23824—
2024#7,59414—
2023#5,54922—
2022#5,98420—
2021#5,23724—
2020#5,85020—
2019#5,79821—
2018#8,61712—
2017#5,82121—
2016#8,39313—
2015#5,28825—
2014#5,99321—
2013#7,03117—
2012#6,34120—
2011#8,61413—
2010#7,51316—
2009#9,37912—
2008#5,43426—
2007#5,37726—
2006#5,23326—
2005#5,99920—
2004#4,81627—
2003#4,94325—
2002#4,90624—
2001#6,61916—
2000#4,98123—
1999#6,48415—
1998#5,36319—
1997#4,66022—
1996#4,58322—
1995#5,01919—
1994#4,23824—
1993#3,35133—
1992#4,23624—
1991#3,54030—
1990#3,81327—
1989#3,40230—
1988#3,22530—
1987#2,61238—
1986#2,47040—
1985#2,60137—
1984#2,62535—
1983#2,47537—
1982#2,32742—
1981#2,30543—
1980#1,98153—
1979#2,21844—
1978#1,98748—
1977#1,97649—
1976#1,71456—
1975#1,48169—
1974#1,59859—
1973#1,45066—
1972#1,22686—
1971#1,35079—
1970#1,29383—
1969#1,059107—
1968#958116—
1967#1,07194—
1966#823146—
1965#807151—
1964#695220—
1963#758184—
1962#702216—
1961#657244—
1960#653241—
1959#607269—
1958#562303—
1957#501358—
1956#528308—
1955#481356—
1954#430412—
1953#424419—
1952#385457—
1951#363490#3,7145
1950#330544—
1949#333546#3,6905
1948#308616#3,3166
1947#313608—
1946#297603—
1945#283601—
1944#273640#2,4679
1943#258719—
1942#249754#2,9407
1941#237727—
1940#227741—
1939#212792#2,28810
1938#216786#3,5345
1937#203833—
1936#201842#3,1476
1935#188930#2,02913
1934#1801,008#2,9737
1933#176985#2,7388
1932#1661,167#2,19112
1931#1631,151#3,7635
1930#1691,207#2,44411
1929#1661,246—
1928#1571,382#4,1515
1927#1611,379#3,4517
1926#1571,485—
1925#1621,490#2,9369
1924#1681,424#3,0239
1923#1681,389#3,8226
1922#1631,411#3,2528
1921#1581,525#2,63211
1920#1521,529#2,45912
1919#1471,497#4,1685
1918#1531,463#2,8829
1917#1481,436—
1916#1451,378#2,9268
1915#1391,375#2,6219
1914#147993#2,9156
1913#140865#2,2737
1912#141774#2,0457
1911#138595#1,7405
1910#140577#1,4216
1909#145487—
1908#144477—
1907#150439—
1906#139444—
1905#164330—
1904#157345—
1903#165302—
1902#166288—
1901#183236—
1900#188275—
1899#173247—
1898#188240—
1897#185213—
1896#199192—
1895#191203—
1894#185211—
1893#203155—
1892#198160—
1891#192139—
1890#205135—
1889#23796—
1888#25383—
1887#26862—
1886#26064—
1885#26655—
1884#26853—
1883#28738—
1882#31731—
1881#29728—
1880#28230—
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Erma was already there! It came in at #282, and was given to 30 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 2009–2011, when fewer than 17 girls a year got the name.

Where Erma is popular in 1931

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedNHWashington: #211 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 1,451 girlsWAIdaho: #121 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 436 girlsIDMontana: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #166 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 1,154 girlsMNIllinois: #158 for girls · 50 births · 1 in 1,055 girlsILWisconsin: #228 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 2,098 girlsWIMichigan: #185 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 1,376 girlsMINew York: #315 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 3,776 girlsNYMassachusetts: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedRIOregon: #140 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 633 girlsORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: #158 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 785 girlsSDIowa: #121 for girls · 30 births · 1 in 610 girlsIAIndiana: #120 for girls · 35 births · 1 in 676 girlsINOhio: #121 for girls · 75 births · 1 in 629 girlsOHPennsylvania: #145 for girls · 82 births · 1 in 943 girlsPANew Jersey: #273 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 3,440 girlsNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #251 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 1,672 girlsCAUtah: #85 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 335 girlsUTColorado: #112 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 426 girlsCONebraska: #88 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 397 girlsNEMissouri: #88 for girls · 70 births · 1 in 385 girlsMOKentucky: #158 for girls · 36 births · 1 in 722 girlsKYWest Virginia: #71 for girls · 59 births · 1 in 291 girlsWVVirginia: #178 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 941 girlsVAMaryland: #231 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 1,969 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedDEArizona: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedNMKansas: #85 for girls · 37 births · 1 in 379 girlsKSArkansas: #51 for girls · 77 births · 1 in 228 girlsARTennessee: #178 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 938 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #191 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 1,164 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #360 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 3,692 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #70 for girls · 70 births · 1 in 314 girlsOKLouisiana: #171 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 749 girlsLAMississippi: #146 for girls · 33 births · 1 in 609 girlsMSAlabama: #169 for girls · 35 births · 1 in 814 girlsALGeorgia: #224 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 1,345 girlsGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedHITexas: #136 for girls · 93 births · 1 in 604 girlsTXFlorida: #217 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 1,066 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Arkansas#51 · 1 in 228
  2. Oklahoma#70 · 1 in 314
  3. West Virginia#71 · 1 in 291
  4. Utah#85 · 1 in 335
  5. Kansas#85 · 1 in 379

Best ever in a state: #9 in Utah, 1910.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Arkansas#51771 in 228
Oklahoma#70701 in 314
West Virginia#71591 in 291
Kansas#85371 in 379
Utah#85131 in 335
Missouri#88701 in 385
Nebraska#88271 in 397
Colorado#112191 in 426
Indiana#120351 in 676
Idaho#12181 in 436
Iowa#121301 in 610
Ohio#121751 in 629
Texas#136931 in 604
Oregon#14081 in 633
Pennsylvania#145821 in 943
Mississippi#146331 in 609
Illinois#158501 in 1,055
Kentucky#158361 in 722
South Dakota#15871 in 785
Minnesota#166171 in 1,154
Alabama#169351 in 814
Louisiana#171271 in 749
Tennessee#178281 in 938
Virginia#178241 in 941
Michigan#185281 in 1,376
North Carolina#191291 in 1,164
Washington#21161 in 1,451
Florida#217111 in 1,066
Georgia#224221 in 1,345
Wisconsin#228111 in 2,098
Maryland#23161 in 1,969
California#251211 in 1,672
New Jersey#27381 in 3,440
New York#315241 in 3,776
South Carolina#36051 in 3,692
Alaska———
Arizona———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Hawaii———
Maine———
Massachusetts———
Montana———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Mexico———
North Dakota———
Rhode Island———
Vermont———
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 Erma
Momentum · girls
Holding steady
  • 2,356 spots since 2024 (#7,594 → #5,238)
  • 612 spots since 2020 (#5,850 → #5,238)
  • 50 spots since 2015 (#5,288 → #5,238)
  • Biggest jump: 113 spots in 1968 (#1,071 → #958)
  • Biggest drop: 248 spots in 1967 (#823 → #1,071)
Rise & fade · girls
31 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1911 at #138 (595 births)
  • Births halved by 1959, 48 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 1,000 for 88 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: never
  • Top 1,000: 88 yrs · run 1880–1966
Share of babies · girls
1 in 665
  • Highest: 1 in 665 girls born in 1906 were named Erma (0.15%)
  • Latest: 1 in 66,969 girls born in 2025 (0.00%)
  • Its best rank, #138 in 1911, was only 1 in 703 (0.14%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · girls
The 1920s
  • 26.0% of all girls named Erma (14,260) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s540#237 (1889)#274
1890s1,895#173 (1899)#192
1900s3,623#139 (1906)#160
1910s10,953#138 (1911)#144
1920s14,260#152 (1920)#161
1930s9,701#163 (1931)#187
1940s6,555#227 (1940)#278
1950s3,916#330 (1950)#461
1960s1,719#653 (1960)#818
1970s639#1,226 (1972)#1,629
1980s385#1,981 (1980)#2,602
1990s235#3,351 (1993)#4,529
2000s225#4,816 (2004)#5,769
2010s179#5,288 (2015)#6,941
2020s124#5,237 (2021)#5,909

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.

Erma in 1931

girls
#163
1,151 births · 1 in 925 girls
boys
#3,763
5 births · 1 in 207,933 boys

Top girls' names in 1931

  1. #1Mary60,299
  2. #2Betty36,105
  3. #3Dorothy26,524
  4. #4Barbara21,804
  5. #5Joan19,119
  6. #6Helen17,664
  7. #7Margaret17,332
  8. #8Patricia16,469
  9. #9Shirley14,405
  10. #10Doris13,629
  11. #163Erma1,151

Top boys' names in 1931

  1. #1Robert60,519
  2. #2James51,212
  3. #3John48,423
  4. #4William43,280
  5. #5Richard31,822
  6. #6Charles29,934
  7. #7Donald29,100
  8. #8George20,685
  9. #9Joseph19,326
  10. #10Thomas16,847
  11. #3,763Erma5
More about 1931

girls

1,064,728 girls got a published name in 1931; 1 in 925 of them was named Erma, which outranked 96.7% of the 4,979 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 22.9% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Erma
  1. #160Cora1,185
  2. #161Rachel1,171
  3. #162Lula1,154
  4. #163Erma1,151
  5. #164Ramona1,130
  6. #165Caroline1,125
  7. #166Inez1,111
Biggest movers since 1930
Risers
  1. ↑ 857Joretta#1,320 → #463
  2. ↑ 519Joetta#1,460 → #941
  3. ↑ 483Sondra#1,031 → #548
  4. ↑ 465Celine#1,460 → #995
  5. ↑ 343Lynne#1,274 → #931
Fallers
  1. ↓ 377Margo#937 → #1,314
  2. ↓ 349Rachael#894 → #1,243
  3. ↓ 317Evelyne#926 → #1,243
  4. ↓ 287Vivien#971 → #1,258
  5. ↓ 283Ardeth#629 → #912

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

boys

1,039,665 boys got a published name in 1931; 1 in 207,933 of them was named Erma, which outranked 12.9% of the 4,321 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.8% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Erma
  1. #3,390Zannie6
  2. #3,390Zell6
  3. #3,390Zigmund6
  4. #3,763Erma5
  5. #3,763Abbie5
  6. #3,763Abran5
  7. #3,763Achilles5

Tied with 558 names at #3,763; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1930
Risers
  1. ↑ 794Kenton#1,753 → #959
  2. ↑ 420Wyman#1,330 → #910
  3. ↑ 408Jan#1,330 → #922
  4. ↑ 402Leopold#1,399 → #997
  5. ↑ 398Odie#1,299 → #901
Fallers
  1. ↓ 513Artie#976 → #1,489
  2. ↓ 469Arnulfo#892 → #1,361
  3. ↓ 385Rose#832 → #1,217
  4. ↓ 357Ransom#976 → #1,333
  5. ↓ 343Jodie#990 → #1,333

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

See the top 100 for 1931 →