Velma

#5,722 for girls in 2025, 21 births · Last seen for boys in 1955 at #2,558
Given to girls 99.5% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1912 · 1,403 births
Debut · girls
16 births
In top 100 · girls
14 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · girls
86,752
since 1880

Velma over time

girls

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

#1#10#100#1,000#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201926peak #88, 1912girls
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#5,72221—
2024#7,96713—
2023#5,54922—
2022#5,17225—
2021#7,25015—
2020#7,21215—
2019#7,71614—
2018#5,78521—
2017#11,6158—
2016#12,8767—
2015#14,4826—
2014#8,48513—
2013#11,0009—
2012#16,8695—
2011#7,78315—
2010#11,2469—
2009#10,67910—
2008#15,4056—
2007#17,6365—
2006#11,4179—
2005#13,0107—
2004#7,82814—
2003#9,04811—
2002#7,44414—
2001#10,1029—
2000#8,02712—
1999#7,71612—
1998#6,07316—
1997#7,74211—
1996#7,13012—
1995#6,64113—
1994#5,01619—
1993#4,82620—
1992#6,00815—
1991#2,88640—
1990#3,29733—
1989#3,25332—
1988#2,80337—
1987#2,49341—
1986#2,34443—
1985#2,70435—
1984#2,01850—
1983#1,88755—
1982#1,85058—
1981#1,45583—
1980#1,51878—
1979#1,50378—
1978#1,39783—
1977#1,45176—
1976#1,19195—
1975#1,22993—
1974#1,070110—
1973#933131—
1972#993120—
1971#828167—
1970#781181—
1969#731191—
1968#651222—
1967#577273—
1966#546299—
1965#499362—
1964#487395—
1963#478407—
1962#445464—
1961#428524—
1960#406559—
1959#400550—
1958#416502—
1957#352668—
1956#332692—
1955#338634#2,55810
1954#309749#3,8275
1953#304737—
1952#300706—
1951#277798—
1950#267825—
1949#272798#3,2986
1948#254871—
1947#259848—
1946#242875#3,1736
1945#223861#2,7437
1944#211935#2,19511
1943#2011,046—
1942#1961,052—
1941#1881,000—
1940#188986#2,6718
1939#1781,068#3,4805
1938#1741,160#2,32610
1937#1641,218#3,5185
1936#1671,180#2,18411
1935#1471,352#2,02913
1934#1441,426#2,5639
1933#1371,481#2,7388
1932#1331,689#1,46523
1931#1311,758#2,47110
1930#1271,918#1,96415
1929#1281,930#2,09614
1928#1142,290#2,27013
1927#1182,285#2,52311
1926#1242,120#1,84618
1925#1282,177#1,62822
1924#1232,272#1,77620
1923#1162,337#2,44612
1922#1132,367#2,80110
1921#1082,606#3,5177
1920#1052,491#1,88518
1919#1042,341#1,57622
1918#1032,439#2,26013
1917#982,411#2,42311
1916#992,319#2,38911
1915#942,287#2,18412
1914#921,795#2,4578
1913#891,556#1,44114
1912#881,403#2,5445
1911#901,045#1,2908
1910#901,035#1,1938
1909#92857#1,0838
1908#90860#1,2176
1907#90854#1,2006
1906#94721—
1905#94722—
1904#101615#1,0646
1903#99589—
1902#113526—
1901#130388#1,0585
1900#141426—
1899#139334—
1898#152331—
1897#160280—
1896#174249—
1895#188208—
1894#189196—
1893#201156—
1892#212146—
1891#236103—
1890#25496—
1889#28172—
1888#28667—
1887#27459—
1886#37133—
1885#35432—
1884#47918—
1883#36625—
1882#44617—
1881#38419—
1880#42116—
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Velma was already there! It came in at #421, and was given to 16 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 2007–2008, when fewer than 7 girls a year got the name.

Where Velma is popular in 1926

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedAKMaine: #126 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 541 girlsMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedNHWashington: #113 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 477 girlsWAIdaho: #67 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 234 girlsIDMontana: #86 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 315 girlsMTNorth Dakota: #174 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 897 girlsNDMinnesota: #158 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 1,033 girlsMNIllinois: #115 for girls · 101 births · 1 in 590 girlsILWisconsin: #154 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 988 girlsWIMichigan: #133 for girls · 54 births · 1 in 758 girlsMINew York: #279 for girls · 33 births · 1 in 2,987 girlsNYMassachusetts: #280 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 3,856 girlsMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedRIOregon: #93 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 375 girlsORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedNVWyoming: #73 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 252 girlsWYSouth Dakota: #98 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 347 girlsSDIowa: #72 for girls · 72 births · 1 in 276 girlsIAIndiana: #94 for girls · 64 births · 1 in 408 girlsINOhio: #126 for girls · 84 births · 1 in 647 girlsOHPennsylvania: #168 for girls · 81 births · 1 in 1,130 girlsPANew Jersey: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #137 for girls · 60 births · 1 in 602 girlsCAUtah: #126 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 483 girlsUTColorado: #86 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 307 girlsCONebraska: #73 for girls · 41 births · 1 in 276 girlsNEMissouri: #47 for girls · 141 births · 1 in 215 girlsMOKentucky: #122 for girls · 57 births · 1 in 500 girlsKYWest Virginia: #130 for girls · 37 births · 1 in 539 girlsWVVirginia: #139 for girls · 39 births · 1 in 668 girlsVAMaryland: #199 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 1,504 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedDEArizona: #125 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 431 girlsAZNew Mexico: #167 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 565 girlsNMKansas: #42 for girls · 82 births · 1 in 187 girlsKSArkansas: #54 for girls · 90 births · 1 in 229 girlsARTennessee: #90 for girls · 74 births · 1 in 367 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #127 for girls · 71 births · 1 in 541 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #198 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 1,219 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #31 for girls · 155 births · 1 in 161 girlsOKLouisiana: #62 for girls · 104 births · 1 in 229 girlsLAMississippi: #67 for girls · 83 births · 1 in 286 girlsMSAlabama: #85 for girls · 97 births · 1 in 335 girlsALGeorgia: #136 for girls · 51 births · 1 in 622 girlsGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedHITexas: #81 for girls · 165 births · 1 in 362 girlsTXFlorida: #147 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 620 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Oklahoma#31 · 1 in 161
  2. Kansas#42 · 1 in 187
  3. Missouri#47 · 1 in 215
  4. Arkansas#54 · 1 in 229
  5. Louisiana#62 · 1 in 229

Best ever in a state: #12 in Kansas, 1910.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Oklahoma#311551 in 161
Kansas#42821 in 187
Missouri#471411 in 215
Arkansas#54901 in 229
Louisiana#621041 in 229
Idaho#67151 in 234
Mississippi#67831 in 286
Iowa#72721 in 276
Nebraska#73411 in 276
Wyoming#7361 in 252
Texas#811651 in 362
Alabama#85971 in 335
Colorado#86271 in 307
Montana#86121 in 315
Tennessee#90741 in 367
Oregon#93151 in 375
Indiana#94641 in 408
South Dakota#98171 in 347
Washington#113201 in 477
Illinois#1151011 in 590
Kentucky#122571 in 500
Arizona#12591 in 431
Maine#126121 in 541
Ohio#126841 in 647
Utah#126101 in 483
North Carolina#127711 in 541
West Virginia#130371 in 539
Michigan#133541 in 758
Georgia#136511 in 622
California#137601 in 602
Virginia#139391 in 668
Florida#147271 in 620
Wisconsin#154241 in 988
Minnesota#158211 in 1,033
New Mexico#16771 in 565
Pennsylvania#168811 in 1,130
North Dakota#17471 in 897
South Carolina#198181 in 1,219
Maryland#19991 in 1,504
New York#279331 in 2,987
Massachusetts#28091 in 3,856
Alaska———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Hawaii———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Jersey———
Rhode Island———
Vermont———

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 Velma
Momentum · girls
Rising
  • 2,245 spots since 2024 (#7,967 → #5,722)
  • 1,490 spots since 2020 (#7,212 → #5,722)
  • 8,760 spots since 2015 (#14,482 → #5,722)
  • Biggest jump: 125 spots in 1885 (#479 → #354)
  • Biggest drop: 165 spots in 1972 (#828 → #993)
Rise & fade · girls
32 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1912 at #88 (1,403 births)
  • Births halved by 1955, 43 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 100 for 14 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 14 yrs · run 1905–1917
  • Top 1,000: 94 yrs · run 1880–1973
Share of babies · girls
1 in 373
  • Highest: 1 in 373 girls born in 1907 were named Velma (0.27%)
  • Latest: 1 in 76,537 girls born in 2025 (0.00%)
  • Its best rank, #88 in 1912, was only 1 in 398 (0.25%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · girls
The 1920s
  • 26.4% of all girls named Velma (22,875) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s358#274 (1887)#366
1890s2,099#139 (1899)#191
1900s6,558#90 (1908)#104
1910s18,631#88 (1912)#95
1920s22,875#105 (1920)#118
1930s14,250#127 (1930)#150
1940s9,272#188 (1941)#223
1950s6,861#267 (1950)#330
1960s3,696#406 (1960)#525
1970s1,134#781 (1970)#1,138
1980s512#1,455 (1981)#2,233
1990s191#2,886 (1991)#5,734
2000s97#7,444 (2002)#11,060
2010s107#5,785 (2018)#10,786
2020s111#5,172 (2022)#6,479

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.

Velma in 1926

girls
#124
2,120 births · 1 in 559 girls
boys
#1,846
18 births · 1 in 61,695 boys

Top girls' names in 1926

  1. #1Mary67,832
  2. #2Dorothy36,618
  3. #3Betty32,964
  4. #4Helen26,886
  5. #5Margaret23,072
  6. #6Ruth20,225
  7. #7Doris16,295
  8. #8Virginia16,161
  9. #9Mildred13,547
  10. #10Frances13,355
  11. #124Velma2,120

Top boys' names in 1926

  1. #1Robert61,130
  2. #2John56,108
  3. #3James53,196
  4. #4William51,922
  5. #5Charles29,521
  6. #6George25,910
  7. #7Richard25,143
  8. #8Joseph23,756
  9. #9Donald20,912
  10. #10Edward19,375
  11. #1,846Velma18
More about 1926

girls

1,185,401 girls got a published name in 1926; 1 in 559 of them was named Velma, which outranked 97.8% of the 5,622 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 22.5% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Velma
  1. #121Stella2,191
  2. #122Billie2,170
  3. #123Lena2,143
  4. #124Velma2,120
  5. #125Rosa2,115
  6. #126Loretta2,108
  7. #127Mabel2,076
Biggest movers since 1925
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,047Janell#1,795 → #748
  2. ↑ 389Madalyn#1,225 → #836
  3. ↑ 382Evangelina#1,324 → #942
  4. ↑ 379Carla#1,252 → #873
  5. ↑ 351Vilma#1,020 → #669
Fallers
  1. ↓ 597Albertine#944 → #1,541
  2. ↓ 462Cleora#895 → #1,357
  3. ↓ 461Lorrayne#988 → #1,449
  4. ↓ 453Hermina#996 → #1,449
  5. ↓ 307Ethelene#913 → #1,220

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

boys

1,110,505 boys got a published name in 1926; 1 in 61,695 of them was named Velma, which outranked 61.8% of the 4,837 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.0% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Velma
  1. #1,787Wilborn19
  2. #1,787Yale19
  3. #1,787Yutaka19
  4. #1,846Velma18
  5. #1,846Arsenio18
  6. #1,846Audry18
  7. #1,846Bentley18
  8. #1,911Alban17
  9. #1,911Alf17
  10. #1,911Almond17

Tied with 64 names at #1,846; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1925
Risers
  1. ↑ 477Jonnie#1,332 → #855
  2. ↑ 433Jorge#1,425 → #992
  3. ↑ 410Faustino#1,390 → #980
  4. ↑ 404Adelbert#1,246 → #842
  5. ↑ 381Cameron#1,164 → #783
Fallers
  1. ↓ 531Okey#984 → #1,515
  2. ↓ 459Florentino#973 → #1,432
  3. ↓ 407Rexford#924 → #1,331
  4. ↓ 380Marshal#973 → #1,353
  5. ↓ 378Coolidge#746 → #1,124

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

See the top 100 for 1926 →