Holding steady.
Popularity of Belma since 1895
Babies named Belma per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1918, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Belma's real moment was 1895.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 5 |
| 1900s | 23 |
| 1910s | 104 |
| 1920s | 101 |
| 1930s | 58 |
| 1940s | 26 |
| 1950s | 78 |
| 1960s | 65 |
| 1970s | 21 |
| 1980s | 8 |
| 1990s | 13 |
| 2000s | 92 |
| 2010s | 41 |
| 2020s | 5 |
Meaning & origin
Belma is a rare feminine name with an uncertain origin. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1895, its peak year, but has never ranked in the top 1000. The name's trajectory has been stable, meaning it has consistently remained very uncommon. Its similarity to names like Velma and Selma gives it a vintage feel, but its lack of a clear etymology means parents often choose it for its sound rather than a specific meaning.
Belma is a name of uncertain origin. It may have emerged as a 19th-century American coinage, possibly a variant of Velma or a short form of Belinda. Its earliest recorded use in the United States dates to 1895, but it never achieved widespread popularity.
“Belma” around the world
Where Belma lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Belle, Bel
Variants: Velma
Sibling names for Belma
Names that share Belma's style, for a brother or sister.
