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

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1910 · 2,976 births
Debut · girls
5 births
In top 100 · girls
42 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · girls
225,460
since 1880

Thelma over time

girls

Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201943peak #25, 1910girls
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#4,66129—
2024#4,29433—
2023#5,39023—
2022#5,02826—
2021#4,32632—
2020#4,75727—
2019#5,61222—
2018#4,88927—
2017#5,04526—
2016#4,42332—
2015#4,98127—
2014#5,31025—
2013#6,46219—
2012#5,11427—
2011#8,19614—
2010#6,38220—
2009#4,26935—
2008#4,88230—
2007#5,09728—
2006#4,26534—
2005#3,50942—
2004#4,38731—
2003#3,53240—
2002#4,07131—
2001#2,60058—
2000#2,85450—
1999#2,81248—
1998#2,27962—
1997#2,93441—
1996#2,59148—
1995#1,80279—
1994#1,99970—
1993#1,94272—
1992#1,68889—
1991#1,70286—
1990#1,61792—
1989#1,50695—
1988#1,56484—
1987#1,42492—
1986#1,282105—
1985#1,318101—
1984#1,126122—
1983#1,127119—
1982#972152—
1981#964152—
1980#994148—
1979#905164—
1978#858171—
1977#774195—
1976#750193—
1975#736198—
1974#641238—
1973#682219—
1972#665225—
1971#606281—
1970#621274—
1969#554318#4,4045
1968#480400—
1967#481388—
1966#425475—
1965#379579—
1964#371655—
1963#353720#3,3187
1962#345752#4,0335
1961#339772#4,0655
1960#326835#3,3377
1959#305899—
1958#316847#3,5596
1957#291967—
1956#2541,078—
1955#2461,105#2,43511
1954#2281,241#2,9428
1953#2231,295#3,7985
1952#2091,358#3,3736
1951#1891,528—
1950#1871,458—
1949#1721,625#2,6069
1948#1631,763#2,44310
1947#1531,902#2,25112
1946#1501,794#2,6908
1945#1311,853#3,3385
1944#1311,997#1,89014
1943#1272,210#2,18212
1942#1212,257#2,04213
1941#1082,367#2,33310
1940#1012,461#2,17911
1939#882,696#1,35924
1938#862,866#1,74116
1937#783,062#1,57619
1936#743,196#1,16932
1935#763,190#1,16532
1934#653,646#1,21330
1933#573,636#1,33025
1932#514,272#1,32427
1931#534,440#1,11137
1930#455,250#1,21534
1929#415,476#1,23732
1928#405,978#1,25433
1927#386,303#1,43627
1926#366,585#1,19236
1925#356,823#1,09141
1924#337,316#1,05845
1923#317,379#1,35829
1922#317,254#1,43427
1921#307,839#1,29632
1920#317,814#1,27332
1919#317,558#1,04742
1918#327,740#1,01244
1917#327,245#1,29128
1916#297,290#1,20630
1915#306,762#1,24128
1914#265,496#1,22123
1913#264,595#91429
1912#264,183#1,02320
1911#273,166#98212
1910#252,976#72917
1909#262,612#84012
1908#262,526#1,0218
1907#282,339#73513
1906#312,114#70912
1905#361,945#78610
1904#371,757#8109
1903#471,479#7839
1902#521,309#1,0136
1901#571,090—
1900#731,094—
1899#78736—
1898#99605—
1897#117419#9426
1896#167260#1,1015
1895#205173—
1894#33370—
1893#41442—
1892#47133—
1891#51425—
1890#55822—
1889#51624—
1888#66315—
1887#9377—
1886#65712—
1885——
1884#8517—
1883#8176—
1882——
1881——
1880#8365—
First appearance
1880

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 1943

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Thelma, so not publishedAKMaine: #143 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 770 girlsMEVermont: #113 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 520 girlsVTNew Hampshire: #112 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 549 girlsNHWashington: #240 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 1,856 girlsWAIdaho: fewer than 5 girls named Thelma, so not publishedIDMontana: #138 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 609 girlsMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Thelma, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #274 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 2,794 girlsMNIllinois: #200 for girls · 47 births · 1 in 1,492 girlsILWisconsin: #252 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 2,824 girlsWIMichigan: #183 for girls · 38 births · 1 in 1,483 girlsMINew York: #203 for girls · 78 births · 1 in 1,467 girlsNYMassachusetts: #203 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 1,941 girlsMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Thelma, so not publishedRIOregon: #207 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 1,498 girlsORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Thelma, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Thelma, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Thelma, so not publishedSDIowa: #135 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 864 girlsIAIndiana: #99 for girls · 55 births · 1 in 592 girlsINOhio: #145 for girls · 70 births · 1 in 928 girlsOHPennsylvania: #142 for girls · 110 births · 1 in 820 girlsPANew Jersey: #192 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 1,507 girlsNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Thelma, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #190 for girls · 63 births · 1 in 1,238 girlsCAUtah: #132 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 627 girlsUTColorado: #151 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 746 girlsCONebraska: #223 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 1,695 girlsNEMissouri: #102 for girls · 55 births · 1 in 598 girlsMOKentucky: #58 for girls · 104 births · 1 in 278 girlsKYWest Virginia: #54 for girls · 70 births · 1 in 278 girlsWVVirginia: #52 for girls · 126 births · 1 in 241 girlsVAMaryland: #90 for girls · 46 births · 1 in 410 girlsMDDelaware: #51 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 178 girlsDEArizona: #211 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 928 girlsAZNew Mexico: #180 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 768 girlsNMKansas: #148 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 866 girlsKSArkansas: #51 for girls · 79 births · 1 in 263 girlsARTennessee: #55 for girls · 117 births · 1 in 274 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #70 for girls · 130 births · 1 in 331 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #46 for girls · 115 births · 1 in 217 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: #122 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 643 girlsDCOklahoma: #75 for girls · 59 births · 1 in 362 girlsOKLouisiana: #83 for girls · 90 births · 1 in 305 girlsLAMississippi: #50 for girls · 114 births · 1 in 220 girlsMSAlabama: #80 for girls · 94 births · 1 in 362 girlsALGeorgia: #72 for girls · 110 births · 1 in 332 girlsGAHawaii: #101 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 357 girlsHITexas: #110 for girls · 144 births · 1 in 516 girlsTXFlorida: #123 for girls · 39 births · 1 in 534 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. South Carolina#46 · 1 in 217
  2. Mississippi#50 · 1 in 220
  3. Delaware#51 · 1 in 178
  4. Arkansas#51 · 1 in 263
  5. Virginia#52 · 1 in 241

Best ever in a state: #5 in Utah, 1910.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
South Carolina#461151 in 217
Mississippi#501141 in 220
Arkansas#51791 in 263
Delaware#51131 in 178
Virginia#521261 in 241
West Virginia#54701 in 278
Tennessee#551171 in 274
Kentucky#581041 in 278
North Carolina#701301 in 331
Georgia#721101 in 332
Oklahoma#75591 in 362
Alabama#80941 in 362
Louisiana#83901 in 305
Maryland#90461 in 410
Indiana#99551 in 592
Hawaii#101121 in 357
Missouri#102551 in 598
Texas#1101441 in 516
New Hampshire#11271 in 549
Vermont#11351 in 520
District of Columbia#122151 in 643
Florida#123391 in 534
Utah#132111 in 627
Iowa#135241 in 864
Montana#13871 in 609
Pennsylvania#1421101 in 820
Maine#143101 in 770
Ohio#145701 in 928
Kansas#148171 in 866
Colorado#151141 in 746
New Mexico#18081 in 768
Michigan#183381 in 1,483
California#190631 in 1,238
New Jersey#192241 in 1,507
Illinois#200471 in 1,492
Massachusetts#203201 in 1,941
New York#203781 in 1,467
Oregon#20771 in 1,498
Arizona#21171 in 928
Nebraska#22361 in 1,695
Washington#240101 in 1,856
Wisconsin#252101 in 2,824
Minnesota#27491 in 2,794
Alaska———
Connecticut———
Idaho———
Nevada———
North Dakota———
Rhode Island———
South Dakota———
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 Thelma
Momentum · girls
Holding steady
  • 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)
Rise & fade · girls
30 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1910 at #25 (2,976 births)
  • Births halved by 1950, 40 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 100 for 42 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 42 yrs · run 1898–1939
  • Top 1,000: 100 yrs · run 1886–1982
Share of babies · girls
1 in 132
  • 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
Era · girls
The 1920s
  • 30.5% of all girls named Thelma (68,767) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s76#516 (1889)#754
1890s2,385#78 (1899)#296
1900s18,265#26 (1909)#41
1910s57,011#25 (1910)#28
1920s68,767#30 (1921)#35
1930s36,254#45 (1930)#67
1940s20,229#101 (1940)#136
1950s11,776#187 (1950)#245
1960s5,894#326 (1960)#405
1970s2,158#606 (1971)#724
1980s1,170#964 (1981)#1,228
1990s687#1,617 (1990)#2,137
2000s379#2,600 (2001)#3,947
2010s239#4,423 (2016)#5,641
2020s170#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 1943

girls
#127
2,210 births · 1 in 631 girls
boys
#2,182
12 births · 1 in 118,941 boys

Top girls' names in 1943

  1. #1Mary66,174
  2. #2Barbara43,432
  3. #3Patricia39,620
  4. #4Linda38,439
  5. #5Carol31,686
  6. #6Sandra25,990
  7. #7Judith25,214
  8. #8Sharon24,712
  9. #9Nancy23,988
  10. #10Betty21,596
  11. #127Thelma2,210

Top boys' names in 1943

  1. #1James80,278
  2. #2Robert74,892
  3. #3John68,929
  4. #4William55,904
  5. #5Richard46,339
  6. #6David37,240
  7. #7Charles36,632
  8. #8Thomas32,874
  9. #9Ronald29,239
  10. #10Michael24,745
  11. #2,182Thelma12
More about 1943

girls

1,395,293 girls got a published name in 1943; 1 in 631 of them was named Thelma, which outranked 97.6% of the 5,367 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 24.4% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Thelma
  1. #124Florence2,273
  2. #125Lucille2,248
  3. #126Ethel2,217
  4. #127Thelma2,210
  5. #128Margie2,148
  6. #129Marion2,124
  7. #130Grace2,121
Biggest movers since 1942
Risers
  1. ↑ 878Tana#1,559 → #681
  2. ↑ 754Rozanne#1,706 → #952
  3. ↑ 722Cheryle#1,592 → #870
  4. ↑ 596Tena#1,592 → #996
  5. ↑ 525Alexis#1,349 → #824
Fallers
  1. ↓ 594Florida#997 → #1,591
  2. ↓ 467Jerilynn#581 → #1,048
  3. ↓ 364Lorelei#864 → #1,228
  4. ↓ 308Kaaren#536 → #844
  5. ↓ 305Erna#864 → #1,169

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

boys

1,427,297 boys got a published name in 1943; 1 in 118,941 of them was named Thelma, which outranked 46.0% of the 4,040 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 34.1% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Thelma
  1. #2,074Winslow13
  2. #2,074Wm13
  3. #2,074Worley13
  4. #2,182Thelma12
  5. #2,182Alcide12
  6. #2,182Andrea12
  7. #2,182Axel12
  8. #2,277Abran11
  9. #2,277Adalberto11
  10. #2,277Alexis11

Tied with 94 names at #2,182; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1942
Risers
  1. ↑ 514Derek#1,228 → #714
  2. ↑ 465Armond#1,421 → #956
  3. ↑ 368Les#1,214 → #846
  4. ↑ 347Aron#1,244 → #897
  5. ↑ 321Edsel#1,167 → #846
Fallers
  1. ↓ 500Humberto#780 → #1,280
  2. ↓ 352Chauncey#928 → #1,280
  3. ↓ 352Clearence#991 → #1,343
  4. ↓ 344Macarthur#512 → #856
  5. ↓ 325Reyes#933 → #1,258

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

See the top 100 for 1943 →