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#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201963peak #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 1963

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Thelma, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 girls named Thelma, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Thelma, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Thelma, so not publishedNHWashington: fewer than 5 girls named Thelma, so not publishedWAIdaho: fewer than 5 girls named Thelma, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 girls named Thelma, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Thelma, so not publishedNDMinnesota: fewer than 5 girls named Thelma, so not publishedMNIllinois: #365 for girls · 33 births · 1 in 3,004 girlsILWisconsin: fewer than 5 girls named Thelma, so not publishedWIMichigan: #423 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 4,214 girlsMINew York: #581 for girls · 25 births · 1 in 6,531 girlsNYMassachusetts: fewer than 5 girls named Thelma, so not publishedMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Thelma, so not publishedRIOregon: fewer than 5 girls named Thelma, so not publishedORNevada: 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: fewer than 5 girls named Thelma, so not publishedIAIndiana: #437 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 4,281 girlsINOhio: #390 for girls · 26 births · 1 in 3,685 girlsOHPennsylvania: #423 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 4,425 girlsPANew Jersey: #348 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 2,875 girlsNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Thelma, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #525 for girls · 38 births · 1 in 4,582 girlsCAUtah: fewer than 5 girls named Thelma, so not publishedUTColorado: fewer than 5 girls named Thelma, so not publishedCONebraska: fewer than 5 girls named Thelma, so not publishedNEMissouri: #414 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 4,107 girlsMOKentucky: #238 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 1,509 girlsKYWest Virginia: #191 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 1,009 girlsWVVirginia: #240 for girls · 26 births · 1 in 1,530 girlsVAMaryland: #315 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 2,297 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Thelma, so not publishedDEArizona: #370 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 2,151 girlsAZNew Mexico: #249 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 1,102 girlsNMKansas: #355 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 2,659 girlsKSArkansas: #191 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 921 girlsARTennessee: #302 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 2,316 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #254 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 1,599 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #190 for girls · 26 births · 1 in 951 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: #305 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 1,833 girlsDCOklahoma: #488 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 4,027 girlsOKLouisiana: #161 for girls · 50 births · 1 in 723 girlsLAMississippi: #148 for girls · 35 births · 1 in 675 girlsMSAlabama: #246 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 1,395 girlsALGeorgia: #226 for girls · 34 births · 1 in 1,283 girlsGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Thelma, so not publishedHITexas: #220 for girls · 104 births · 1 in 1,031 girlsTXFlorida: #280 for girls · 30 births · 1 in 1,617 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Mississippi#148 · 1 in 675
  2. Louisiana#161 · 1 in 723
  3. South Carolina#190 · 1 in 951
  4. Arkansas#191 · 1 in 921
  5. West Virginia#191 · 1 in 1,009

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Mississippi#148351 in 675
Louisiana#161501 in 723
South Carolina#190261 in 951
Arkansas#191191 in 921
West Virginia#191151 in 1,009
Texas#2201041 in 1,031
Georgia#226341 in 1,283
Kentucky#238201 in 1,509
Virginia#240261 in 1,530
Alabama#246231 in 1,395
New Mexico#249101 in 1,102
North Carolina#254291 in 1,599
Florida#280301 in 1,617
Tennessee#302151 in 2,316
District of Columbia#30571 in 1,833
Maryland#315131 in 2,297
New Jersey#348201 in 2,875
Kansas#35571 in 2,659
Illinois#365331 in 3,004
Arizona#37071 in 2,151
Ohio#390261 in 3,685
Missouri#414101 in 4,107
Michigan#423191 in 4,214
Pennsylvania#423231 in 4,425
Indiana#437111 in 4,281
Oklahoma#48851 in 4,027
California#525381 in 4,582
New York#581251 in 6,531
Alaska———
Colorado———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
Hawaii———
Idaho———
Iowa———
Maine———
Massachusetts———
Minnesota———
Montana———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
North Dakota———
Oregon———
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 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 1963

girls
#353
720 births · 1 in 2,677 girls
boys
#3,318
7 births · 1 in 290,154 boys

Top girls' names in 1963

  1. #1Lisa56,047
  2. #2Mary41,546
  3. #3Susan33,991
  4. #4Karen32,492
  5. #5Linda27,727
  6. #6Donna25,405
  7. #7Patricia25,374
  8. #8Lori23,899
  9. #9Sandra21,621
  10. #10Cynthia21,589
  11. #353Thelma720

Top boys' names in 1963

  1. #1Michael83,771
  2. #2John78,636
  3. #3David78,444
  4. #4James71,294
  5. #5Robert70,007
  6. #6Mark49,342
  7. #7William44,453
  8. #8Richard40,772
  9. #9Thomas35,490
  10. #10Jeffrey31,701
  11. #3,318Thelma7
More about 1963

girls

1,927,507 girls got a published name in 1963; 1 in 2,677 of them was named Thelma, which outranked 95.4% of the 7,661 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 16.1% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Thelma
  1. #350Kris734
  2. #351Lesa726
  3. #352Emma724
  4. #353Thelma720
  5. #354Beatrice718
  6. #355Laurel717
  7. #356Elisa716
Biggest movers since 1962
Risers
  1. ↑ 631Zena#1,323 → #692
  2. ↑ 623Zina#992 → #369
  3. ↑ 540Trisha#1,020 → #480
  4. ↑ 457Shirl#1,304 → #847
  5. ↑ 396Glynis#992 → #596
Fallers
  1. ↓ 1,195Marnita#727 → #1,922
  2. ↓ 255Velvet#623 → #878
  3. ↓ 235Delphine#904 → #1,139
  4. ↓ 224Rosita#934 → #1,158
  5. ↓ 197Lindy#885 → #1,082

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

boys

2,031,078 boys got a published name in 1963; 1 in 290,154 of them was named Thelma, which outranked 28.2% of the 4,621 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 28.7% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Thelma
  1. #3,044Williard8
  2. #3,044Wray8
  3. #3,044Yvon8
  4. #3,318Thelma7
  5. #3,318Aharon7
  6. #3,318Alcide7
  7. #3,318Almon7
  8. #3,646Abelino6
  9. #3,646Abran6
  10. #3,646Ainsley6

Tied with 327 names at #3,318; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1962
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,551Tal#2,364 → #813
  2. ↑ 1,141Jaimie#1,962 → #821
  3. ↑ 540Stoney#1,038 → #498
  4. ↑ 364Pamela#1,311 → #947
  5. ↑ 331Giovanni#1,242 → #911
Fallers
  1. ↓ 324Olin#871 → #1,195
  2. ↓ 295Enoch#984 → #1,279
  3. ↓ 285Rand#953 → #1,238
  4. ↓ 283Vernell#996 → #1,279
  5. ↓ 269Bentley#926 → #1,195

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

See the top 100 for 1963 →