Thelma
#4,661 for girls in 2025, 29 births · Last seen for boys in 1969 at #4,404
Given to girls 99.5% of the time
- Peak · girls
- 1910 · 2,976 births
- Debut · girls
- 5 births
- In top 100 · girls
- 42 yrsof 146 years
- Total births · girls
- 225,460since 1880
Thelma over time
Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.
Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.
Show data table
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | #4,661 | 29 | — | |
| 2024 | #4,294 | 33 | — | |
| 2023 | #5,390 | 23 | — | |
| 2022 | #5,028 | 26 | — | |
| 2021 | #4,326 | 32 | — | |
| 2020 | #4,757 | 27 | — | |
| 2019 | #5,612 | 22 | — | |
| 2018 | #4,889 | 27 | — | |
| 2017 | #5,045 | 26 | — | |
| 2016 | #4,423 | 32 | — | |
| 2015 | #4,981 | 27 | — | |
| 2014 | #5,310 | 25 | — | |
| 2013 | #6,462 | 19 | — | |
| 2012 | #5,114 | 27 | — | |
| 2011 | #8,196 | 14 | — | |
| 2010 | #6,382 | 20 | — | |
| 2009 | #4,269 | 35 | — | |
| 2008 | #4,882 | 30 | — | |
| 2007 | #5,097 | 28 | — | |
| 2006 | #4,265 | 34 | — | |
| 2005 | #3,509 | 42 | — | |
| 2004 | #4,387 | 31 | — | |
| 2003 | #3,532 | 40 | — | |
| 2002 | #4,071 | 31 | — | |
| 2001 | #2,600 | 58 | — | |
| 2000 | #2,854 | 50 | — | |
| 1999 | #2,812 | 48 | — | |
| 1998 | #2,279 | 62 | — | |
| 1997 | #2,934 | 41 | — | |
| 1996 | #2,591 | 48 | — | |
| 1995 | #1,802 | 79 | — | |
| 1994 | #1,999 | 70 | — | |
| 1993 | #1,942 | 72 | — | |
| 1992 | #1,688 | 89 | — | |
| 1991 | #1,702 | 86 | — | |
| 1990 | #1,617 | 92 | — | |
| 1989 | #1,506 | 95 | — | |
| 1988 | #1,564 | 84 | — | |
| 1987 | #1,424 | 92 | — | |
| 1986 | #1,282 | 105 | — | |
| 1985 | #1,318 | 101 | — | |
| 1984 | #1,126 | 122 | — | |
| 1983 | #1,127 | 119 | — | |
| 1982 | #972 | 152 | — | |
| 1981 | #964 | 152 | — | |
| 1980 | #994 | 148 | — | |
| 1979 | #905 | 164 | — | |
| 1978 | #858 | 171 | — | |
| 1977 | #774 | 195 | — | |
| 1976 | #750 | 193 | — | |
| 1975 | #736 | 198 | — | |
| 1974 | #641 | 238 | — | |
| 1973 | #682 | 219 | — | |
| 1972 | #665 | 225 | — | |
| 1971 | #606 | 281 | — | |
| 1970 | #621 | 274 | — | |
| 1969 | #554 | 318 | #4,404 | 5 |
| 1968 | #480 | 400 | — | |
| 1967 | #481 | 388 | — | |
| 1966 | #425 | 475 | — | |
| 1965 | #379 | 579 | — | |
| 1964 | #371 | 655 | — | |
| 1963 | #353 | 720 | #3,318 | 7 |
| 1962 | #345 | 752 | #4,033 | 5 |
| 1961 | #339 | 772 | #4,065 | 5 |
| 1960 | #326 | 835 | #3,337 | 7 |
| 1959 | #305 | 899 | — | |
| 1958 | #316 | 847 | #3,559 | 6 |
| 1957 | #291 | 967 | — | |
| 1956 | #254 | 1,078 | — | |
| 1955 | #246 | 1,105 | #2,435 | 11 |
| 1954 | #228 | 1,241 | #2,942 | 8 |
| 1953 | #223 | 1,295 | #3,798 | 5 |
| 1952 | #209 | 1,358 | #3,373 | 6 |
| 1951 | #189 | 1,528 | — | |
| 1950 | #187 | 1,458 | — | |
| 1949 | #172 | 1,625 | #2,606 | 9 |
| 1948 | #163 | 1,763 | #2,443 | 10 |
| 1947 | #153 | 1,902 | #2,251 | 12 |
| 1946 | #150 | 1,794 | #2,690 | 8 |
| 1945 | #131 | 1,853 | #3,338 | 5 |
| 1944 | #131 | 1,997 | #1,890 | 14 |
| 1943 | #127 | 2,210 | #2,182 | 12 |
| 1942 | #121 | 2,257 | #2,042 | 13 |
| 1941 | #108 | 2,367 | #2,333 | 10 |
| 1940 | #101 | 2,461 | #2,179 | 11 |
| 1939 | #88 | 2,696 | #1,359 | 24 |
| 1938 | #86 | 2,866 | #1,741 | 16 |
| 1937 | #78 | 3,062 | #1,576 | 19 |
| 1936 | #74 | 3,196 | #1,169 | 32 |
| 1935 | #76 | 3,190 | #1,165 | 32 |
| 1934 | #65 | 3,646 | #1,213 | 30 |
| 1933 | #57 | 3,636 | #1,330 | 25 |
| 1932 | #51 | 4,272 | #1,324 | 27 |
| 1931 | #53 | 4,440 | #1,111 | 37 |
| 1930 | #45 | 5,250 | #1,215 | 34 |
| 1929 | #41 | 5,476 | #1,237 | 32 |
| 1928 | #40 | 5,978 | #1,254 | 33 |
| 1927 | #38 | 6,303 | #1,436 | 27 |
| 1926 | #36 | 6,585 | #1,192 | 36 |
| 1925 | #35 | 6,823 | #1,091 | 41 |
| 1924 | #33 | 7,316 | #1,058 | 45 |
| 1923 | #31 | 7,379 | #1,358 | 29 |
| 1922 | #31 | 7,254 | #1,434 | 27 |
| 1921 | #30 | 7,839 | #1,296 | 32 |
| 1920 | #31 | 7,814 | #1,273 | 32 |
| 1919 | #31 | 7,558 | #1,047 | 42 |
| 1918 | #32 | 7,740 | #1,012 | 44 |
| 1917 | #32 | 7,245 | #1,291 | 28 |
| 1916 | #29 | 7,290 | #1,206 | 30 |
| 1915 | #30 | 6,762 | #1,241 | 28 |
| 1914 | #26 | 5,496 | #1,221 | 23 |
| 1913 | #26 | 4,595 | #914 | 29 |
| 1912 | #26 | 4,183 | #1,023 | 20 |
| 1911 | #27 | 3,166 | #982 | 12 |
| 1910 | #25 | 2,976 | #729 | 17 |
| 1909 | #26 | 2,612 | #840 | 12 |
| 1908 | #26 | 2,526 | #1,021 | 8 |
| 1907 | #28 | 2,339 | #735 | 13 |
| 1906 | #31 | 2,114 | #709 | 12 |
| 1905 | #36 | 1,945 | #786 | 10 |
| 1904 | #37 | 1,757 | #810 | 9 |
| 1903 | #47 | 1,479 | #783 | 9 |
| 1902 | #52 | 1,309 | #1,013 | 6 |
| 1901 | #57 | 1,090 | — | |
| 1900 | #73 | 1,094 | — | |
| 1899 | #78 | 736 | — | |
| 1898 | #99 | 605 | — | |
| 1897 | #117 | 419 | #942 | 6 |
| 1896 | #167 | 260 | #1,101 | 5 |
| 1895 | #205 | 173 | — | |
| 1894 | #333 | 70 | — | |
| 1893 | #414 | 42 | — | |
| 1892 | #471 | 33 | — | |
| 1891 | #514 | 25 | — | |
| 1890 | #558 | 22 | — | |
| 1889 | #516 | 24 | — | |
| 1888 | #663 | 15 | — | |
| 1887 | #937 | 7 | — | |
| 1886 | #657 | 12 | — | |
| 1885 | — | — | ||
| 1884 | #851 | 7 | — | |
| 1883 | #817 | 6 | — | |
| 1882 | — | — | ||
| 1881 | — | — | ||
| 1880 | #836 | 5 | — | |
In the first year the SSA published name data, Thelma was already there! It came in at #836, and was given to 5 baby girls.
Quietest stretch: 1880–1882, when fewer than 6 girls a year got the name.
Where Thelma is popular in 1917
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
- Florida#7 · 1 in 67
- Louisiana#12 · 1 in 93
- Arkansas#12 · 1 in 94
- Indiana#13 · 1 in 80
- Oklahoma#13 · 1 in 83
Best ever in a state: #5 in Utah, 1910.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | #7 | 133 | 1 in 67 |
| Arkansas | #12 | 192 | 1 in 94 |
| Louisiana | #12 | 201 | 1 in 93 |
| Indiana | #13 | 302 | 1 in 80 |
| Oklahoma | #13 | 239 | 1 in 83 |
| Virginia | #13 | 299 | 1 in 84 |
| Kentucky | #14 | 312 | 1 in 79 |
| Missouri | #16 | 293 | 1 in 97 |
| Texas | #16 | 393 | 1 in 120 |
| West Virginia | #17 | 179 | 1 in 90 |
| Maryland | #18 | 131 | 1 in 97 |
| Tennessee | #18 | 252 | 1 in 97 |
| District of Columbia | #19 | 32 | 1 in 80 |
| Georgia | #20 | 275 | 1 in 114 |
| Utah | #20 | 45 | 1 in 103 |
| North Carolina | #21 | 290 | 1 in 109 |
| Hawaii | #22 | 27 | 1 in 98 |
| Ohio | #22 | 427 | 1 in 119 |
| Colorado | #23 | 62 | 1 in 118 |
| Vermont | #23 | 29 | 1 in 87 |
| Kansas | #24 | 139 | 1 in 108 |
| Maine | #27 | 59 | 1 in 103 |
| Mississippi | #27 | 137 | 1 in 128 |
| Oregon | #27 | 42 | 1 in 116 |
| Nebraska | #28 | 92 | 1 in 128 |
| Idaho | #29 | 34 | 1 in 111 |
| Iowa | #29 | 161 | 1 in 128 |
| Wyoming | #30 | 12 | 1 in 106 |
| New Hampshire | #32 | 29 | 1 in 108 |
| South Carolina | #33 | 151 | 1 in 129 |
| Montana | #34 | 47 | 1 in 126 |
| Alabama | #36 | 163 | 1 in 153 |
| Delaware | #38 | 13 | 1 in 138 |
| North Dakota | #38 | 55 | 1 in 141 |
| South Dakota | #38 | 44 | 1 in 139 |
| Washington | #40 | 54 | 1 in 161 |
| California | #41 | 121 | 1 in 172 |
| Pennsylvania | #41 | 571 | 1 in 164 |
| New Mexico | #51 | 17 | 1 in 188 |
| Michigan | #52 | 184 | 1 in 186 |
| Illinois | #55 | 264 | 1 in 221 |
| Massachusetts | #59 | 135 | 1 in 261 |
| New Jersey | #59 | 121 | 1 in 247 |
| Arizona | #68 | 12 | 1 in 235 |
| New York | #73 | 298 | 1 in 326 |
| Rhode Island | #78 | 16 | 1 in 323 |
| Connecticut | #82 | 39 | 1 in 370 |
| Minnesota | #87 | 63 | 1 in 343 |
| Wisconsin | #109 | 53 | 1 in 439 |
| Alaska | — | — | — |
| Nevada | — | — | — |
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 Thelma
- 367 spots since 2024 (#4,294 → #4,661)
- 96 spots since 2020 (#4,757 → #4,661)
- 320 spots since 2015 (#4,981 → #4,661)
- Biggest jump: 274 spots in 1888 (#937 → #663)
- Biggest drop: 280 spots in 1887 (#657 → #937)
- Debuted 1880
- Peaked 1910 at #25 (2,976 births)
- Births halved by 1950, 40 yrs later
- Top 10: never
- Top 100: 42 yrs · run 1898–1939
- Top 1,000: 100 yrs · run 1886–1982
- Highest: 1 in 132 girls born in 1911 were named Thelma (0.76%)
- Latest: 1 in 55,423 girls born in 2025 (0.00%)
- Its best rank, #25 in 1910, was only 1 in 133 (0.75%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
- 30.5% of all girls named Thelma (68,767) were born in this decade
Show by decade
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 76 | #516 (1889) | #754 |
| 1890s | 2,385 | #78 (1899) | #296 |
| 1900s | 18,265 | #26 (1909) | #41 |
| 1910s | 57,011 | #25 (1910) | #28 |
| 1920s | 68,767 | #30 (1921) | #35 |
| 1930s | 36,254 | #45 (1930) | #67 |
| 1940s | 20,229 | #101 (1940) | #136 |
| 1950s | 11,776 | #187 (1950) | #245 |
| 1960s | 5,894 | #326 (1960) | #405 |
| 1970s | 2,158 | #606 (1971) | #724 |
| 1980s | 1,170 | #964 (1981) | #1,228 |
| 1990s | 687 | #1,617 (1990) | #2,137 |
| 2000s | 379 | #2,600 (2001) | #3,947 |
| 2010s | 239 | #4,423 (2016) | #5,641 |
| 2020s | 170 | #4,294 (2024) | #4,743 |
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.
Thelma in 1917
Top girls' names in 1917
Top boys' names in 1917
More about 1917
girls
1,081,267 girls got a published name in 1917; 1 in 149 of them was named Thelma, which outranked 99.4% of the 5,310 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.3% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.
boys
925,482 boys got a published name in 1917; 1 in 33,053 of them was named Thelma, which outranked 71.9% of the 4,602 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 30.9% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).
- #1,264Reynaldo29
- #1,264Ruel29
- #1,264Woodson29
- #1,291Thelma28
- #1,291Alphonsus28
- #1,291Arlin28
- #1,291Arvo28
- #1,322Alfons27
- #1,322Andre27
- #1,322Anson27
Tied with 30 names at #1,291; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.