Declining since 1990, #3,167 for girls today.
Popularity of Irma since 1880
Babies named Irma per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1920, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Irma's real moment was 1911.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 733 |
| 1890s | 2,407 |
| 1900s | 3,909 |
| 1910s | 10,461 |
| 1920s | 12,237 |
| 1930s | 8,517 |
| 1940s | 7,752 |
| 1950s | 9,431 |
| 1960s | 7,073 |
| 1970s | 4,029 |
| 1980s | 2,638 |
| 1990s | 2,213 |
| 2000s | 1,348 |
| 2010s | 636 |
| 2020s | 385 |
Meaning & origin
Irma, a name of Germanic origin meaning 'great' or 'noble', reached its peak popularity in the United States in 1911, when it ranked among the top names for girls. While it has steadily declined in use since the 1990s, the name remains in use today, with a ranking of 3167 in 2025, given to about 1 in every 32,145 newborns. The name's trajectory shows a clear falling trend over the past several decades. Irma was most common in Texas and California, reflecting its historical popularity in states with significant German-American heritage. The name has a straightforward pronunciation and a strong, classic feel that appeals to parents seeking a vintage name with European roots.
Irma is a German short form of feminine names beginning with the element 'ermen-' or 'irmin-', meaning 'great, strong, entire'. It was particularly popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, coinciding with a trend for short, simple names. The name has been used across Germanic-speaking Europe and was brought to English-speaking countries through immigration.
Where Irma 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.
“Irma” around the world
Where Irma lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
10
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Irmi, Irmy
Sibling names for Irma
Names that share Irma's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Elsa, Hilda, Martha, Olga, Selma, Wilma, Delma, Elda, Gilda, Marva, Melva, Nilda, Treva, Verla, Alda, Awilda, Melda, Valda, Velda, Aloma, Aretta, Ilma, Melvia, Orva, Velna, Berma, Gurtha, Iretha, Irva, Marvie, Sherma, Alga, Arneda, Eltha, Elveta, Ertha, Lenis, Milta, Vanice, Walda, Wilna
Brothers: Otto, Hugo, Arnold, Ernst, Walter, Erwin, Monte, Arlin, Verlin, Eldo, Ermal, Nelvin, Delno, Erbie, Ervey, Melvern, Isador, Heberto, Lyndol, Virgal
