Holding steady, #10,695 for boys today.
Popularity of Anselmo since 1907
Babies named Anselmo per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1990, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Anselmo's real moment was 1907.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 5 |
| 1910s | 127 |
| 1920s | 267 |
| 1930s | 248 |
| 1940s | 215 |
| 1950s | 299 |
| 1960s | 250 |
| 1970s | 272 |
| 1980s | 274 |
| 1990s | 299 |
| 2000s | 278 |
| 2010s | 143 |
| 2020s | 71 |
Meaning & origin
Anselmo is a rare Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese form of the Germanic name Anselm, meaning 'God’s helmet.' The name first appeared in U.S. records in 1907, and its highest popularity was also in that year, when it peaked. Since then, it has remained extremely uncommon: in 2025 it ranked 10,695, given to fewer than 1 in every 284,679 boys. The trajectory of the name has been stable over recent decades, with no recorded top states due to its rarity. Though not widely used in the United States, Anselmo retains strong ties to Catholic heritage through Saint Anselm of Canterbury, who is celebrated in many European countries. Parents drawn to classic Italian and Spanish surnames as first names or seeking a distinctive alternative to popular biblical names may appreciate Anselmo's dignified sound and historical depth.
Anselmo is the Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese form of the Germanic name Anselm, derived from the elements ans (god) and helm (helmet, protector). The name was borne by Saint Anselm of Canterbury, an 11th-century philosopher and theologian, and has long been used in continental Europe, particularly in Italy and Spain, where it has persisted as a given name.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Anse, Selmo
Variants: Anselm, Anselmus
Sibling names for Anselmo
Names that share Anselmo's style, for a brother or sister.
