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#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201942peak #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 1942

  • 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: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: #181 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 1,071 girlsNDMinnesota: #369 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 5,078 girlsMNIllinois: #295 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 2,938 girlsILWisconsin: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedWIMichigan: #315 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 3,716 girlsMINew York: #483 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 8,075 girlsNYMassachusetts: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedRIOregon: #217 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 1,509 girlsORNevada: 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: #187 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 1,509 girlsIAIndiana: #238 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 2,131 girlsINOhio: #254 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 2,440 girlsOHPennsylvania: #261 for girls · 33 births · 1 in 2,729 girlsPANew Jersey: #429 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 7,137 girlsNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #376 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 3,451 girlsCAUtah: #219 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 1,204 girlsUTColorado: #241 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 1,652 girlsCONebraska: #151 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 987 girlsNEMissouri: #160 for girls · 32 births · 1 in 1,011 girlsMOKentucky: #226 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 1,467 girlsKYWest Virginia: #133 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 734 girlsWVVirginia: #199 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 1,217 girlsVAMaryland: #235 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 1,770 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedDEArizona: #217 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 974 girlsAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedNMKansas: #192 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 1,269 girlsKSArkansas: #58 for girls · 77 births · 1 in 265 girlsARTennessee: #219 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 1,362 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #239 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 1,746 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #340 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 2,975 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: #222 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 1,721 girlsDCOklahoma: #118 for girls · 33 births · 1 in 618 girlsOKLouisiana: #231 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 1,094 girlsLAMississippi: #137 for girls · 42 births · 1 in 580 girlsMSAlabama: #193 for girls · 33 births · 1 in 1,002 girlsALGeorgia: #222 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 1,256 girlsGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedHITexas: #181 for girls · 76 births · 1 in 881 girlsTXFlorida: #199 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 988 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Arkansas#58 · 1 in 265
  2. Oklahoma#118 · 1 in 618
  3. West Virginia#133 · 1 in 734
  4. Mississippi#137 · 1 in 580
  5. Nebraska#151 · 1 in 987

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Arkansas#58771 in 265
Oklahoma#118331 in 618
West Virginia#133281 in 734
Mississippi#137421 in 580
Nebraska#151101 in 987
Missouri#160321 in 1,011
North Dakota#18151 in 1,071
Texas#181761 in 881
Iowa#187141 in 1,509
Kansas#192111 in 1,269
Alabama#193331 in 1,002
Florida#199181 in 988
Virginia#199241 in 1,217
Arizona#21761 in 974
Oregon#21761 in 1,509
Tennessee#219231 in 1,362
Utah#21951 in 1,204
District of Columbia#22251 in 1,721
Georgia#222281 in 1,256
Kentucky#226201 in 1,467
Louisiana#231241 in 1,094
Maryland#235101 in 1,770
Indiana#238151 in 2,131
North Carolina#239241 in 1,746
Colorado#24161 in 1,652
Ohio#254271 in 2,440
Pennsylvania#261331 in 2,729
Illinois#295241 in 2,938
Michigan#315151 in 3,716
South Carolina#34081 in 2,975
Minnesota#36951 in 5,078
California#376201 in 3,451
New Jersey#42951 in 7,137
New York#483141 in 8,075
Alaska———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
Hawaii———
Idaho———
Maine———
Massachusetts———
Montana———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Mexico———
Rhode Island———
South Dakota———
Vermont———
Washington———
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 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 1942

girls
#249
754 births · 1 in 1,791 girls
boys
#2,940
7 births · 1 in 197,309 boys

Top girls' names in 1942

  1. #1Mary63,256
  2. #2Barbara44,739
  3. #3Patricia39,465
  4. #4Linda31,613
  5. #5Carol30,272
  6. #6Sandra24,994
  7. #7Judith24,792
  8. #8Nancy23,327
  9. #9Betty21,659
  10. #10Carolyn19,978
  11. #249Erma754

Top boys' names in 1942

  1. #1James77,182
  2. #2Robert71,845
  3. #3John66,043
  4. #4William54,890
  5. #5Richard43,593
  6. #6David35,905
  7. #7Charles35,854
  8. #8Thomas31,100
  9. #9Ronald27,138
  10. #10Donald23,955
  11. #2,940Erma7
More about 1942

girls

1,350,719 girls got a published name in 1942; 1 in 1,791 of them was named Erma, which outranked 95.4% of the 5,378 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 24.0% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Erma
  1. #246Irma770
  2. #247Fannie767
  3. #248Ramona756
  4. #249Erma754
  5. #250Eloise746
  6. #251Colleen745
  7. #252Bettye742
Biggest movers since 1941
Risers
  1. ↑ 3,567Michal#4,420 → #853
  2. ↑ 1,885Merrily#2,397 → #512
  3. ↑ 1,081Merrilee#1,954 → #873
  4. ↑ 783Jerrilyn#1,610 → #827
  5. ↑ 760Candace#1,418 → #658
Fallers
  1. ↓ 354Rebekah#924 → #1,278
  2. ↓ 350Leatha#830 → #1,180
  3. ↓ 307Nella#993 → #1,300
  4. ↓ 272Arla#934 → #1,206
  5. ↓ 262Vivien#735 → #997

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

boys

1,381,161 boys got a published name in 1942; 1 in 197,309 of them was named Erma, which outranked 27.3% of the 4,044 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. #2,712Zebedee8
  2. #2,712Zebulon8
  3. #2,712Zollie8
  4. #2,940Erma7
  5. #2,940Abbie7
  6. #2,940Abie7
  7. #2,940Acy7
  8. #3,212Able6
  9. #3,212Abran6
  10. #3,212Acey6

Tied with 271 names at #2,940; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1941
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,993Macarthur#3,505 → #512
  2. ↑ 1,546Mcarthur#1,903 → #357
  3. ↑ 655Collin#1,588 → #933
  4. ↑ 514Delmas#1,254 → #740
  5. ↑ 390Colin#713 → #323
Fallers
  1. ↓ 525Otho#971 → #1,496
  2. ↓ 440Florian#918 → #1,358
  3. ↓ 421Martha#960 → #1,381
  4. ↓ 407Watson#951 → #1,358
  5. ↓ 371Gaylen#987 → #1,358

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

See the top 100 for 1942 →