Holding steady, #4,352 for girls today.
Popularity of Elma since 1880
Babies named Elma per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1918, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Elma's real moment was 1901.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 643 |
| 1890s | 1,355 |
| 1900s | 1,940 |
| 1910s | 4,802 |
| 1920s | 4,990 |
| 1930s | 2,793 |
| 1940s | 1,810 |
| 1950s | 1,139 |
| 1960s | 654 |
| 1970s | 329 |
| 1980s | 196 |
| 1990s | 183 |
| 2000s | 411 |
| 2010s | 298 |
| 2020s | 160 |
Meaning & origin
Elma is a name that saw its highest popularity in 1901, ranking among the top choices of that era. It has since become rare, with only about 1 in 50,227 babies given the name in 2025. The name is most commonly found in New York state. Its trajectory has been stable over recent decades, neither surging nor declining sharply. While its exact origin is debated, Elma fits a pattern of late 19th-century names that combined fashionable sounds, making it a quiet but enduring choice.
Elma is first recorded in the United States in 1880. It likely arose as a diminutive of names like Wilhelmina or Elmina, or as a variant of Alma, which gained popularity in the 19th century. Its usage peaked in the early 1900s, reflecting the era's taste for soft, feminine names ending in '-ma'.
Where Elma is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Elma” around the world
Where Elma lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
45
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Sibling names for Elma
Names that share Elma's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Alma, Ida, Lena, Mae, Nora, Altha, Elda, Leola, Lida, Nedra, Nelda, Nilda, Oleta, Oma, Selma, Thelma, Wilda, Wilma, Zelma, Alda, Ardyce, Atha, Cleta, Edra, Elvera, Eura, Melda, Minda, Neoma, Velda, Veva, Vilma, Zona, Zulma, Ardys, Aretta, Belma, Dartha, Elmyra, Elzora, Ilma, Olinda, Otila, Velmer, Willma, Wylma, Wynema, Zelpha, Berdina, Berma, Delmi, Eldean, Gilma, Inza, Iretta, Talma, Thelda, Wana, Zeda, Almeter, Adelma, Almee, Burna, Clista, Dula, Eltha, Elverda, Elzena, Felma, Glema, Modine, Omah, Onetta, Telma, Welma
Brothers: Ira, Leo, Otis, Roy, Walter, Delmer, Delwin, Almon, Arlin, Ancil, Belvin, Delford, Eldo, Elmon, Ermal, Eulis, Orlo, Pervis, Thelbert, Wilmar, Adis, Delman, Delmus, Delno, Elmus, Ervey, Ferman, Glendal, Orlyn, Thelmer, Waino, Elmond, Alphus, Delmo, Elby, Elward, Olis, Thelton, Wilman, Wilmon
