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#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201934peak #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 1934

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedAKMaine: #127 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 571 girlsMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedNHWashington: #146 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 704 girlsWAIdaho: #72 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 260 girlsIDMontana: #151 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 712 girlsMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #277 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 2,716 girlsMNIllinois: #157 for girls · 51 births · 1 in 970 girlsILWisconsin: #286 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 3,165 girlsWIMichigan: #159 for girls · 33 births · 1 in 1,109 girlsMINew York: #306 for girls · 25 births · 1 in 3,311 girlsNYMassachusetts: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedRIOregon: #97 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 419 girlsORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedNVWyoming: #91 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 286 girlsWYSouth Dakota: #149 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 742 girlsSDIowa: #107 for girls · 34 births · 1 in 532 girlsIAIndiana: #105 for girls · 43 births · 1 in 522 girlsINOhio: #153 for girls · 47 births · 1 in 957 girlsOHPennsylvania: #158 for girls · 63 births · 1 in 1,129 girlsPANew Jersey: #309 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 3,941 girlsNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #206 for girls · 30 births · 1 in 1,140 girlsCAUtah: #126 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 490 girlsUTColorado: #103 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 395 girlsCONebraska: #77 for girls · 31 births · 1 in 330 girlsNEMissouri: #82 for girls · 72 births · 1 in 375 girlsMOKentucky: #143 for girls · 42 births · 1 in 650 girlsKYWest Virginia: #93 for girls · 47 births · 1 in 390 girlsWVVirginia: #135 for girls · 37 births · 1 in 621 girlsVAMaryland: #217 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 1,643 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedDEArizona: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedAZNew Mexico: #171 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 705 girlsNMKansas: #90 for girls · 34 births · 1 in 388 girlsKSArkansas: #58 for girls · 73 births · 1 in 257 girlsARTennessee: #79 for girls · 78 births · 1 in 343 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #159 for girls · 46 births · 1 in 792 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #175 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 904 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #56 for girls · 89 births · 1 in 254 girlsOKLouisiana: #89 for girls · 65 births · 1 in 319 girlsLAMississippi: #92 for girls · 64 births · 1 in 334 girlsMSAlabama: #99 for girls · 72 births · 1 in 408 girlsALGeorgia: #155 for girls · 45 births · 1 in 673 girlsGAHawaii: #152 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 597 girlsHITexas: #105 for girls · 117 births · 1 in 489 girlsTXFlorida: #163 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 687 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Oklahoma#56 · 1 in 254
  2. Arkansas#58 · 1 in 257
  3. Idaho#72 · 1 in 260
  4. Nebraska#77 · 1 in 330
  5. Tennessee#79 · 1 in 343

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Oklahoma#56891 in 254
Arkansas#58731 in 257
Idaho#72131 in 260
Nebraska#77311 in 330
Tennessee#79781 in 343
Missouri#82721 in 375
Louisiana#89651 in 319
Kansas#90341 in 388
Wyoming#9151 in 286
Mississippi#92641 in 334
West Virginia#93471 in 390
Oregon#97121 in 419
Alabama#99721 in 408
Colorado#103201 in 395
Indiana#105431 in 522
Texas#1051171 in 489
Iowa#107341 in 532
Utah#12691 in 490
Maine#127111 in 571
Virginia#135371 in 621
Kentucky#143421 in 650
Washington#146131 in 704
South Dakota#14971 in 742
Montana#15151 in 712
Hawaii#15251 in 597
Ohio#153471 in 957
Georgia#155451 in 673
Illinois#157511 in 970
Pennsylvania#158631 in 1,129
Michigan#159331 in 1,109
North Carolina#159461 in 792
Florida#163171 in 687
New Mexico#17171 in 705
South Carolina#175231 in 904
California#206301 in 1,140
Maryland#21771 in 1,643
Minnesota#27771 in 2,716
Wisconsin#28671 in 3,165
New York#306251 in 3,311
New Jersey#30961 in 3,941
Alaska———
Arizona———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Massachusetts———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
North Dakota———
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 1934

girls
#144
1,426 births · 1 in 732 girls
boys
#2,563
9 births · 1 in 114,733 boys

Top girls' names in 1934

  1. #1Mary56,929
  2. #2Betty31,089
  3. #3Barbara29,239
  4. #4Shirley22,841
  5. #5Dorothy21,281
  6. #6Patricia20,844
  7. #7Joan19,465
  8. #8Margaret15,144
  9. #9Helen14,100
  10. #10Nancy13,520
  11. #144Velma1,426

Top boys' names in 1934

  1. #1Robert55,843
  2. #2James54,270
  3. #3John46,743
  4. #4William40,175
  5. #5Richard33,167
  6. #6Donald30,408
  7. #7Charles29,790
  8. #8George18,500
  9. #9Thomas17,373
  10. #10Joseph17,111
  11. #2,563Velma9
More about 1934

girls

1,044,225 girls got a published name in 1934; 1 in 732 of them was named Velma, which outranked 97.1% of the 4,973 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.4% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Velma
  1. #141Myrtle1,435
  2. #141Viola1,435
  3. #143Kay1,430
  4. #144Velma1,426
  5. #145Connie1,425
  6. #146Faye1,420
  7. #147Mae1,384
Biggest movers since 1933
Risers
  1. ↑ 571Luann#1,442 → #871
  2. ↑ 469Alison#1,442 → #973
  3. ↑ 439Golda#1,364 → #925
  4. ↑ 350Ronald#1,244 → #894
  5. ↑ 346Gale#1,102 → #756
Fallers
  1. ↓ 685Nira#463 → #1,148
  2. ↓ 342Vina#782 → #1,124
  3. ↓ 316Zita#947 → #1,263
  4. ↓ 299Myrtie#834 → #1,133
  5. ↓ 278Theola#985 → #1,263

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

boys

1,032,596 boys got a published name in 1934; 1 in 114,733 of them was named Velma, which outranked 39.0% of the 4,205 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.3% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Velma
  1. #2,393Worthy10
  2. #2,393Yale10
  3. #2,393Yates10
  4. #2,563Velma9
  5. #2,563Abelino9
  6. #2,563Abie9
  7. #2,563Acey9
  8. #2,742Adin8
  9. #2,742Agnes8
  10. #2,742Albion8

Tied with 178 names at #2,563; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1933
Risers
  1. ↑ 746Lanny#1,361 → #615
  2. ↑ 630Kerry#1,586 → #956
  3. ↑ 620Marland#1,456 → #836
  4. ↑ 404Kirk#1,202 → #798
  5. ↑ 350Valentin#1,281 → #931
Fallers
  1. ↓ 730Neville#995 → #1,725
  2. ↓ 616Garner#770 → #1,386
  3. ↓ 520Vivian#905 → #1,425
  4. ↓ 488Finis#869 → #1,357
  5. ↓ 464Malcom#961 → #1,425

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

See the top 100 for 1934 →