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#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201932peak #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 1932

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedAKMaine: #169 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 917 girlsMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: #113 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 610 girlsNHWashington: #153 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 800 girlsWAIdaho: #115 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 459 girlsIDMontana: #137 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 567 girlsMTNorth Dakota: #142 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 637 girlsNDMinnesota: #215 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 1,613 girlsMNIllinois: #143 for girls · 60 births · 1 in 842 girlsILWisconsin: #279 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 2,876 girlsWIMichigan: #133 for girls · 46 births · 1 in 798 girlsMINew York: #262 for girls · 33 births · 1 in 2,670 girlsNYMassachusetts: #276 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 3,739 girlsMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedRIOregon: #152 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 825 girlsORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: #118 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 488 girlsSDIowa: #109 for girls · 32 births · 1 in 556 girlsIAIndiana: #103 for girls · 44 births · 1 in 518 girlsINOhio: #115 for girls · 72 births · 1 in 635 girlsOHPennsylvania: #162 for girls · 64 births · 1 in 1,160 girlsPANew Jersey: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #176 for girls · 39 births · 1 in 878 girlsCAUtah: #135 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 538 girlsUTColorado: #95 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 342 girlsCONebraska: #92 for girls · 25 births · 1 in 407 girlsNEMissouri: #63 for girls · 92 births · 1 in 301 girlsMOKentucky: #124 for girls · 53 births · 1 in 516 girlsKYWest Virginia: #102 for girls · 45 births · 1 in 390 girlsWVVirginia: #135 for girls · 42 births · 1 in 584 girlsVAMaryland: #219 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 1,736 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedDEArizona: #102 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 342 girlsAZNew Mexico: #152 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 525 girlsNMKansas: #65 for girls · 42 births · 1 in 314 girlsKSArkansas: #41 for girls · 95 births · 1 in 197 girlsARTennessee: #80 for girls · 81 births · 1 in 335 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #129 for girls · 69 births · 1 in 532 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #240 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,604 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #40 for girls · 104 births · 1 in 211 girlsOKLouisiana: #63 for girls · 78 births · 1 in 269 girlsLAMississippi: #77 for girls · 73 births · 1 in 302 girlsMSAlabama: #92 for girls · 79 births · 1 in 378 girlsALGeorgia: #132 for girls · 52 births · 1 in 591 girlsGAHawaii: #163 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 668 girlsHITexas: #76 for girls · 161 births · 1 in 349 girlsTXFlorida: #116 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 454 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Oklahoma#40 · 1 in 211
  2. Arkansas#41 · 1 in 197
  3. Louisiana#63 · 1 in 269
  4. Missouri#63 · 1 in 301
  5. Kansas#65 · 1 in 314

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Oklahoma#401041 in 211
Arkansas#41951 in 197
Louisiana#63781 in 269
Missouri#63921 in 301
Kansas#65421 in 314
Texas#761611 in 349
Mississippi#77731 in 302
Tennessee#80811 in 335
Alabama#92791 in 378
Nebraska#92251 in 407
Colorado#95231 in 342
Arizona#102111 in 342
West Virginia#102451 in 390
Indiana#103441 in 518
Iowa#109321 in 556
New Hampshire#11351 in 610
Idaho#11571 in 459
Ohio#115721 in 635
Florida#116271 in 454
South Dakota#118111 in 488
Kentucky#124531 in 516
North Carolina#129691 in 532
Georgia#132521 in 591
Michigan#133461 in 798
Utah#13581 in 538
Virginia#135421 in 584
Montana#13761 in 567
North Dakota#14291 in 637
Illinois#143601 in 842
New Mexico#15291 in 525
Oregon#15261 in 825
Washington#153111 in 800
Pennsylvania#162641 in 1,160
Hawaii#16351 in 668
Maine#16971 in 917
California#176391 in 878
Minnesota#215121 in 1,613
Maryland#21971 in 1,736
South Carolina#240131 in 1,604
New York#262331 in 2,670
Massachusetts#27681 in 3,739
Wisconsin#27981 in 2,876
Alaska———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Nevada———
New Jersey———
Rhode Island———
Vermont———
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 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 1932

girls
#133
1,689 births · 1 in 632 girls
boys
#1,465
23 births · 1 in 45,398 boys

Top girls' names in 1932

  1. #1Mary59,883
  2. #2Betty34,420
  3. #3Barbara26,318
  4. #4Dorothy24,974
  5. #5Joan21,044
  6. #6Patricia17,992
  7. #7Margaret16,556
  8. #8Helen16,376
  9. #9Shirley14,476
  10. #10Doris12,910
  11. #133Velma1,689

Top boys' names in 1932

  1. #1Robert59,268
  2. #2James51,930
  3. #3John48,624
  4. #4William42,124
  5. #5Richard31,809
  6. #6Charles31,092
  7. #7Donald29,794
  8. #8George20,439
  9. #9Joseph18,566
  10. #10Thomas16,834
  11. #1,465Velma23
More about 1932

girls

1,067,148 girls got a published name in 1932; 1 in 632 of them was named Velma, which outranked 97.4% of the 5,098 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.0% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Velma
  1. #130Sara1,759
  2. #131Rosa1,757
  3. #132Violet1,692
  4. #133Velma1,689
  5. #134Leona1,670
  6. #135Myrtle1,669
  7. #136Viola1,668
Biggest movers since 1931
Risers
  1. ↑ 963Dian#1,876 → #913
  2. ↑ 519Carleen#1,394 → #875
  3. ↑ 357Jimmy#1,336 → #979
  4. ↑ 347Letty#1,287 → #940
  5. ↑ 340Letitia#1,148 → #808
Fallers
  1. ↓ 350Blossom#970 → #1,320
  2. ↓ 332Luetta#844 → #1,176
  3. ↓ 305Roy#887 → #1,192
  4. ↓ 289Sofia#887 → #1,176
  5. ↓ 282Joretta#463 → #745

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

boys

1,044,157 boys got a published name in 1932; 1 in 45,398 of them was named Velma, which outranked 65.8% of the 4,284 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.6% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Velma
  1. #1,426Tyler24
  2. #1,426Vernard24
  3. #1,426Winifred24
  4. #1,465Velma23
  5. #1,465Arlington23
  6. #1,465Ashton23
  7. #1,465Barnett23
  8. #1,509Adolf22
  9. #1,509Alfonza22
  10. #1,509Amon22

Tied with 43 names at #1,465; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1931
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,418Delano#3,095 → #677
  2. ↑ 969Garner#1,643 → #674
  3. ↑ 868Ronny#1,770 → #902
  4. ↑ 713Darryl#1,693 → #980
  5. ↑ 609Marc#1,589 → #980
Fallers
  1. ↓ 467Jones#959 → #1,426
  2. ↓ 455Hamilton#831 → #1,286
  3. ↓ 393Hyman#697 → #1,090
  4. ↓ 373Davey#983 → #1,356
  5. ↓ 341Hayes#983 → #1,324

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

See the top 100 for 1932 →