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#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201949peak #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 1949

  • 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: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedNDMinnesota: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedMNIllinois: #539 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 8,581 girlsILWisconsin: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedWIMichigan: #397 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 5,437 girlsMINew York: #1,011 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 28,381 girlsNYMassachusetts: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedRIOregon: #330 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 3,006 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: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedIAIndiana: #311 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 3,231 girlsINOhio: #347 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 4,336 girlsOHPennsylvania: #437 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 6,847 girlsPANew Jersey: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #358 for girls · 37 births · 1 in 3,060 girlsCAUtah: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedUTColorado: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedCONebraska: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedNEMissouri: #209 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 1,614 girlsMOKentucky: #291 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 2,621 girlsKYWest Virginia: #223 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 1,590 girlsWVVirginia: #273 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 2,234 girlsVAMaryland: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedDEArizona: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedAZNew Mexico: #246 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 1,238 girlsNMKansas: #327 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 2,996 girlsKSArkansas: #70 for girls · 67 births · 1 in 333 girlsARTennessee: #225 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 1,713 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #319 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 2,725 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #407 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 3,972 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #215 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 1,433 girlsOKLouisiana: #237 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 1,243 girlsLAMississippi: #153 for girls · 44 births · 1 in 663 girlsMSAlabama: #274 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 2,078 girlsALGeorgia: #248 for girls · 25 births · 1 in 1,704 girlsGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Erma, so not publishedHITexas: #267 for girls · 56 births · 1 in 1,692 girlsTXFlorida: #284 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 1,924 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Arkansas#70 · 1 in 333
  2. Mississippi#153 · 1 in 663
  3. Missouri#209 · 1 in 1,614
  4. Oklahoma#215 · 1 in 1,433
  5. West Virginia#223 · 1 in 1,590

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Arkansas#70671 in 333
Mississippi#153441 in 663
Missouri#209241 in 1,614
Oklahoma#215151 in 1,433
West Virginia#223151 in 1,590
Tennessee#225221 in 1,713
Louisiana#237271 in 1,243
New Mexico#24671 in 1,238
Georgia#248251 in 1,704
Texas#267561 in 1,692
Virginia#273161 in 2,234
Alabama#274181 in 2,078
Florida#284141 in 1,924
Kentucky#291131 in 2,621
Indiana#311131 in 3,231
North Carolina#319181 in 2,725
Kansas#32761 in 2,996
Oregon#33051 in 3,006
Ohio#347201 in 4,336
California#358371 in 3,060
Michigan#397131 in 5,437
South Carolina#40771 in 3,972
Pennsylvania#437151 in 6,847
Illinois#539101 in 8,581
New York#1,01151 in 28,381
Alaska———
Arizona———
Colorado———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Hawaii———
Idaho———
Iowa———
Maine———
Maryland———
Massachusetts———
Minnesota———
Montana———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Jersey———
North Dakota———
Rhode Island———
South Dakota———
Utah———
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 1949

girls
#333
546 births · 1 in 3,133 girls
boys
#3,690
5 births · 1 in 354,788 boys

Top girls' names in 1949

  1. #1Linda91,015
  2. #2Mary66,874
  3. #3Patricia46,324
  4. #4Barbara42,600
  5. #5Susan37,709
  6. #6Sandra30,643
  7. #7Nancy29,249
  8. #8Carol26,780
  9. #9Kathleen26,357
  10. #10Sharon25,713
  11. #333Erma546

Top boys' names in 1949

  1. #1James86,858
  2. #2Robert83,873
  3. #3John81,178
  4. #4William61,506
  5. #5Michael60,047
  6. #6David59,611
  7. #7Richard50,946
  8. #8Thomas45,192
  9. #9Charles40,052
  10. #10Larry31,819
  11. #3,690Erma5
More about 1949

girls

1,710,877 girls got a published name in 1949; 1 in 3,133 of them was named Erma, which outranked 94.5% of the 6,066 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 24.7% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Erma
  1. #330Sharron553
  2. #331Claudette551
  3. #332Rosetta549
  4. #333Erma546
  5. #334Fannie542
  6. #335Adrienne538
  7. #335Bettie538
Biggest movers since 1948
Risers
  1. ↑ 937Sharman#1,708 → #771
  2. ↑ 665Roseanna#1,422 → #757
  3. ↑ 483Shauna#1,173 → #690
  4. ↑ 293Jacalyn#1,116 → #823
  5. ↑ 267Sanjuana#1,185 → #918
Fallers
  1. ↓ 339Sandie#939 → #1,278
  2. ↓ 296Syble#955 → #1,251
  3. ↓ 272Shirleen#964 → #1,236
  4. ↓ 266Ginny#734 → #1,000
  5. ↓ 260Dina#861 → #1,121

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

boys

1,773,939 boys got a published name in 1949; 1 in 354,788 of them was named Erma, which outranked 12.2% of the 4,205 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.9% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Erma
  1. #3,298Zan6
  2. #3,298Zed6
  3. #3,298Zollie6
  4. #3,690Erma5
  5. #3,690Abundio5
  6. #3,690Alberta5
  7. #3,690Aldine5

Tied with 515 names at #3,690; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1948
Risers
  1. ↑ 538Lannie#1,107 → #569
  2. ↑ 411Lenwood#1,296 → #885
  3. ↑ 338Robby#1,296 → #958
  4. ↑ 326Ocie#1,323 → #997
  5. ↑ 319Denzil#1,127 → #808
Fallers
  1. ↓ 473Loyal#989 → #1,462
  2. ↓ 446Rich#963 → #1,409
  3. ↓ 395Brock#733 → #1,128
  4. ↓ 376Baron#972 → #1,348
  5. ↓ 333Murry#989 → #1,322

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

See the top 100 for 1949 →