Holding steady.
Popularity of Emelda since 1907
Babies named Emelda per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1926, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Emelda's real moment was 1909.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 20 |
| 1910s | 153 |
| 1920s | 288 |
| 1930s | 218 |
| 1940s | 190 |
| 1950s | 194 |
| 1960s | 131 |
| 1970s | 103 |
| 1980s | 73 |
| 1990s | 10 |
| 2000s | 5 |
| 2010s | 11 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Emelda is a rare girl's name that first appeared in U.S. records in 1907, peaking in popularity the following year in 1909. Despite its early 20th-century peak, it has never ranked among the top 1,000 names and has maintained a very low, stable usage ever since. The name is likely a spelling variant of Imelda, with Germanic origins, and has been used sporadically in English-speaking countries. Emelda remains an uncommon choice, offering a vintage feel with a melodic sound.
Emelda is likely a variant of Imelda, a name of Germanic origin. Imelda derives from the elements 'ermen' meaning 'whole, universal' and 'hild' meaning 'battle, strife', translating to 'universal battle' or 'entirely taken as booty'. The name was borne by a 14th-century Italian saint, Saint Imelda Lambertini, and has been used occasionally in English-speaking countries since the 19th century. Emelda emerged as a spelling variant, possibly influenced by names like Amelia.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Em, Emmie, Melda
Variants: Imelda
Sibling names for Emelda
Names that share Emelda's style, for a brother or sister.
