Holding steady, #7,491 for girls today.
Popularity of Ilma since 1885
Babies named Ilma per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1917, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Ilma's real moment was 1885.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 11 |
| 1890s | 42 |
| 1900s | 32 |
| 1910s | 96 |
| 1920s | 67 |
| 1930s | 15 |
| 1940s | 0 |
| 1950s | 13 |
| 1960s | 6 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 32 |
| 2010s | 59 |
| 2020s | 51 |
Meaning & origin
Ilma is a name that offers a whisper of the past, with its first recorded U.S. birth occurring in 1885. It remains extremely uncommon, ranking 7,491 in 2025 with a frequency of just 1 in 114,805 newborns. The name's trajectory has been stable, though it has never achieved widespread use. Its obscurity may appeal to parents seeking a truly distinctive name with a soft, melodic sound. The absence of top states suggests no regional concentration, making it a rare choice anywhere in the country.
Ilma is a name of obscure origin. It may have arisen as a diminutive or variant of Ilma (a feminine form of Ilm) or as a short form of Wilma. Alternatively, it could be derived from the Finnish word ilma meaning 'air'. The name saw occasional use in the United States in the late 19th century, but remains rare.
“Ilma” around the world
Where Ilma lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
10
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Sibling names for Ilma
Names that share Ilma's style, for a brother or sister.
