A 1900s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Erma since 1880
Babies named Erma per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1920, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Erma's real moment was 1906.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 540 |
| 1890s | 1,895 |
| 1900s | 3,623 |
| 1910s | 10,953 |
| 1920s | 14,260 |
| 1930s | 9,701 |
| 1940s | 6,555 |
| 1950s | 3,916 |
| 1960s | 1,719 |
| 1970s | 639 |
| 1980s | 385 |
| 1990s | 235 |
| 2000s | 225 |
| 2010s | 179 |
| 2020s | 124 |
Meaning & origin
Erma is a name with Germanic roots, often considered a variant of Irma or a short form of longer names like Ermengarde. First recorded in the United States in 1880, Erma saw its peak in 1906 when it ranked 229th. In 2025, the name ranked 5,238th, with roughly 1 in 66,969 newborns receiving it, indicating a rare but not unheard-of choice. Its trajectory has been rising slightly since 2010, and it was most commonly given in Indiana. The name's revival in the 1900s decade suggests a potential comeback for this vintage name.
Erma likely originated as a variant of Irma, itself a short form of names containing the Germanic element 'ermen' meaning 'whole' or 'universal', such as Ermengarde. It may also be a feminine form of Herman, which derives from 'heri' (army) and 'man' (man). The name gained moderate popularity in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with a peak in 1906 at rank 229. Its use has declined, but it has seen a slight revival in recent years.
Where Erma 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.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Erm, Emmy
Sibling names for Erma
Names that share Erma's style, for a brother or sister.
