Zelma
Zelma was the 7128th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 16 babies. Its best year was 1902, when it ranked 216th; the most babies were born in 1919 (488). Over the last ten years it has moved up 1,798 places. More babies were named Zelma in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Meaning Not yet researched how we research meanings
- Rank in 2025
- #7,128 girls, up 3,109 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 16girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1919488 babies
- Total since 1880
- 16,936babies recorded
Zelma popularity since 1880
A few boys are given the name too: 112 since 1888.
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #7,128 | 16 |
| 2020 | #10,237 | 10 |
| 2010 | #13,434 | 8 |
| 2000 | #15,019 | 6 |
| 1990 | — | — |
| 1980 | #9,093 | 7 |
| 1970 | #3,576 | 18 |
| 1960 | #1,404 | 62 |
| 1950 | #793 | 120 |
| 1940 | #501 | 190 |
| 1930 | #338 | 370 |
| 1920 | #308 | 448 |
| 1910 | #259 | 220 |
| 1900 | #287 | 131 |
| 1890 | #357 | 52 |
| 1880 | #387 | 19 |
How popular is Zelma, counting every spelling?
Zelma has no other common spelling that sounds the same.
How many kids will share the name Zelma?
16 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Zelma (0.00 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Zelma born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 529 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Zelma.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Zelma?
About 3,000 people born in the US named Zelma are alive today, with a median age of 75; half are between 65 and 84. That makes Zelma a name most people associate with older generations.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Zelma: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Zelma, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Zelma
How popular is the name Zelma?
Zelma was the 7128th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 16 babies. Its best year was 1902, when it ranked 216th; the most babies were born in 1919 (488). Over the last ten years it has moved up 1,798 places. More babies were named Zelma in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Is Zelma a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Zelma in the US.