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#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201934peak #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 1934

  • 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: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedWAIdaho: #161 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 676 girlsIDMontana: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: #143 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 706 girlsNDMinnesota: #277 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 2,716 girlsMNIllinois: #182 for girls · 39 births · 1 in 1,268 girlsILWisconsin: #305 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 3,692 girlsWIMichigan: #180 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 1,356 girlsMINew York: #375 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 5,173 girlsNYMassachusetts: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedRIOregon: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedSDIowa: #167 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 1,064 girlsIAIndiana: #179 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 1,180 girlsINOhio: #141 for girls · 51 births · 1 in 882 girlsOHPennsylvania: #167 for girls · 59 births · 1 in 1,205 girlsPANew Jersey: #246 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 2,628 girlsNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #257 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 1,710 girlsCAUtah: #142 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 551 girlsUTColorado: #144 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 608 girlsCONebraska: #139 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 682 girlsNEMissouri: #96 for girls · 65 births · 1 in 416 girlsMOKentucky: #172 for girls · 34 births · 1 in 803 girlsKYWest Virginia: #98 for girls · 44 births · 1 in 416 girlsWVVirginia: #178 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 957 girlsVAMaryland: #162 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 958 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedDEArizona: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedAZNew Mexico: #228 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 987 girlsNMKansas: #151 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 775 girlsKSArkansas: #46 for girls · 81 births · 1 in 232 girlsARTennessee: #161 for girls · 35 births · 1 in 765 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #206 for girls · 31 births · 1 in 1,176 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #296 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 2,310 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #66 for girls · 70 births · 1 in 323 girlsOKLouisiana: #218 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 1,037 girlsLAMississippi: #137 for girls · 37 births · 1 in 577 girlsMSAlabama: #191 for girls · 31 births · 1 in 946 girlsALGeorgia: #198 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 1,045 girlsGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedHITexas: #138 for girls · 95 births · 1 in 602 girlsTXFlorida: #136 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 531 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Arkansas#46 · 1 in 232
  2. Oklahoma#66 · 1 in 323
  3. Missouri#96 · 1 in 416
  4. West Virginia#98 · 1 in 416
  5. Florida#136 · 1 in 531

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Arkansas#46811 in 232
Oklahoma#66701 in 323
Missouri#96651 in 416
West Virginia#98441 in 416
Florida#136221 in 531
Mississippi#137371 in 577
Texas#138951 in 602
Nebraska#139151 in 682
Ohio#141511 in 882
Utah#14281 in 551
North Dakota#14381 in 706
Colorado#144131 in 608
Kansas#151171 in 775
Idaho#16151 in 676
Tennessee#161351 in 765
Maryland#162121 in 958
Iowa#167171 in 1,064
Pennsylvania#167591 in 1,205
Kentucky#172341 in 803
Virginia#178241 in 957
Indiana#179191 in 1,180
Michigan#180271 in 1,356
Illinois#182391 in 1,268
Alabama#191311 in 946
Georgia#198291 in 1,045
North Carolina#206311 in 1,176
Louisiana#218201 in 1,037
New Mexico#22851 in 987
New Jersey#24691 in 2,628
California#257201 in 1,710
Minnesota#27771 in 2,716
South Carolina#29691 in 2,310
Wisconsin#30561 in 3,692
New York#375161 in 5,173
Alaska———
Arizona———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Hawaii———
Maine———
Massachusetts———
Montana———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
Oregon———
Rhode Island———
South Dakota———
Vermont———
Washington———
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 1934

girls
#180
1,008 births · 1 in 1,036 girls
boys
#2,973
7 births · 1 in 147,514 boys

Top girls' names in 1934

  1. #1Mary56,929
  2. #2Betty31,089
  3. #3Barbara29,239
  4. #4Shirley22,841
  5. #5Dorothy21,281
  6. #6Patricia20,844
  7. #7Joan19,465
  8. #8Margaret15,144
  9. #9Helen14,100
  10. #10Nancy13,520
  11. #180Erma1,008

Top boys' names in 1934

  1. #1Robert55,843
  2. #2James54,270
  3. #3John46,743
  4. #4William40,175
  5. #5Richard33,167
  6. #6Donald30,408
  7. #7Charles29,790
  8. #8George18,500
  9. #9Thomas17,373
  10. #10Joseph17,111
  11. #2,973Erma7
More about 1934

girls

1,044,225 girls got a published name in 1934; 1 in 1,036 of them was named Erma, which outranked 96.4% of the 4,973 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.4% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Erma
  1. #177Verna1,040
  2. #178Nina1,027
  3. #179Cynthia1,021
  4. #180Erma1,008
  5. #181Gwendolyn1,002
  6. #182Linda1,000
  7. #183Genevieve969
Biggest movers since 1933
Risers
  1. ↑ 571Luann#1,442 → #871
  2. ↑ 469Alison#1,442 → #973
  3. ↑ 439Golda#1,364 → #925
  4. ↑ 350Ronald#1,244 → #894
  5. ↑ 346Gale#1,102 → #756
Fallers
  1. ↓ 685Nira#463 → #1,148
  2. ↓ 342Vina#782 → #1,124
  3. ↓ 316Zita#947 → #1,263
  4. ↓ 299Myrtie#834 → #1,133
  5. ↓ 278Theola#985 → #1,263

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

boys

1,032,596 boys got a published name in 1934; 1 in 147,514 of them was named Erma, which outranked 29.3% of the 4,205 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.3% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Erma
  1. #2,742Zebbie8
  2. #2,742Zell8
  3. #2,742Zelma8
  4. #2,973Erma7
  5. #2,973Abbie7
  6. #2,973Agostino7
  7. #2,973Alcee7
  8. #3,277Adalbert6
  9. #3,277Add6
  10. #3,277Adolphe6

Tied with 303 names at #2,973; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1933
Risers
  1. ↑ 746Lanny#1,361 → #615
  2. ↑ 630Kerry#1,586 → #956
  3. ↑ 620Marland#1,456 → #836
  4. ↑ 404Kirk#1,202 → #798
  5. ↑ 350Valentin#1,281 → #931
Fallers
  1. ↓ 730Neville#995 → #1,725
  2. ↓ 616Garner#770 → #1,386
  3. ↓ 520Vivian#905 → #1,425
  4. ↓ 488Finis#869 → #1,357
  5. ↓ 464Malcom#961 → #1,425

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

See the top 100 for 1934 →