Elma

#4,352 for girls in 2025, 32 births · Last seen for boys in 1957 at #3,024
Given to girls 97.8% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1901 · 189 births
Debut · girls
28 births
In top 100 · girls
never
of 146 years
Total births · girls
21,703
since 1880

Elma over time

girls

Rank among girls' names. Elma has never cracked the top 200 here.

#1#10#100#1,000#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201915peak #209, 1901girls
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#4,35232
2024#4,56030
2023#5,39023
2022#5,17225
2021#4,32632
2020#6,32518
2019#4,90927
2018#4,35732
2017#4,38432
2016#4,99027
2015#4,48831
2014#5,02527
2013#5,64423
2012#4,21635
2011#4,35333
2010#4,60831
2009#4,10737
2008#4,17937
2007#3,98339
2006#3,99237
2005#3,25747
2004#3,81937
2003#2,95651
2002#3,39440
2001#2,96348
2000#3,45338
1999#3,44336
1998#5,58318
1997#6,84413
1996#4,88320
1995#5,01919
1994#5,44517
1993#5,41917
1992#5,48417
1991#6,97612
1990#6,13114
1989#4,35821
1988#4,49619
1987#6,78810
1986#5,45913
1985#3,73022
1984#3,14427
1983#3,94919
1982#3,53023
1981#3,85920
1980#3,60922
1979#3,14726
1978#2,68031
1977#3,26723
1976#2,43933
1975#2,61229
1974#2,25435
1973#2,30933
1972#1,97541
1971#1,93744
1970#2,26734
1969#1,78447
1968#1,62550
1967#1,61749
1966#1,63247
1965#1,35066
1964#1,43362
1963#1,26276
1962#1,28374
1961#1,30572
1960#1,020111
1959#1,13089
1958#1,000108
1957#1,07294#3,0248
1956#1,007103
1955#978104
1954#897114
1953#809129
1952#791130
1951#794125#3,3646
1950#717143#3,3296
1949#683150#2,8028
1948#661159#3,0107
1947#643167#3,7335
1946#624162
1945#547179#3,3385
1944#576162#1,98813
1943#517208
1942#495226#2,7128
1941#501193#1,99713
1940#470204#2,6718
1939#469204#2,28810
1938#428244#2,18511
1937#436225#1,75616
1936#396258#2,30110
1935#393267#2,5299
1934#375285#2,39310
1933#369297#2,5429
1932#373299#2,8498
1931#339352#2,8648
1930#345362#2,7819
1929#341360#2,31712
1928#321424#1,82218
1927#308465#1,79619
1926#313449#1,60522
1925#301487#1,93517
1924#290522#2,22914
1923#289494#1,87418
1922#268579#2,34713
1921#271610#1,90418
1920#266600#1,74720
1919#262594#2,06315
1918#249659#2,07315
1917#256580#2,7329
1916#246622#1,45923
1915#245575#2,18412
1914#242484#2,10110
1913#245388#1,49713
1912#233375#1,52711
1911#248252#1,5376
1910#234273
1909#227248
1908#234208
1907#219228
1906#227193
1905#243171#1,2335
1904#248160
1903#235162
1902#210199
1901#209189
1900#235182
1899#238136
1898#221172
1897#218156
1896#219160#9826
1895#234137
1894#237127
1893#230129
1892#248112
1891#223118
1890#234108
1889#23598
1888#23497
1887#24673
1886#22282
1885#22776
1884#25359
1883#27442
1882#25047
1881#24741
1880#29428
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Elma was already there! It came in at #294, and was given to 28 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 1986–1987, when fewer than 14 girls a year got the name.

Where Elma is popular in 1915

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedNHWashington: #136 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 711 girlsWAIdaho: #122 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 385 girlsIDMontana: #159 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 867 girlsMTNorth Dakota: #216 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 1,334 girlsNDMinnesota: #163 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 945 girlsMNIllinois: #303 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 3,134 girlsILWisconsin: #358 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 4,237 girlsWIMichigan: #161 for girls · 30 births · 1 in 927 girlsMINew York: #279 for girls · 30 births · 1 in 3,052 girlsNYMassachusetts: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedRIOregon: #79 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 275 girlsORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedNVWyoming: #66 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 185 girlsWYSouth Dakota: #150 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 723 girlsSDIowa: #186 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 1,117 girlsIAIndiana: #241 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 1,904 girlsINOhio: #209 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 1,630 girlsOHPennsylvania: #216 for girls · 43 births · 1 in 2,029 girlsPANew Jersey: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #207 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 1,243 girlsCAUtah: #188 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 806 girlsUTColorado: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedCONebraska: #228 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 1,496 girlsNEMissouri: #227 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 1,554 girlsMOKentucky: #275 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 1,966 girlsKYWest Virginia: #212 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 1,233 girlsWVVirginia: #272 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 2,299 girlsVAMaryland: #200 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 1,499 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedDEArizona: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedNMKansas: #120 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 557 girlsKSArkansas: #189 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 860 girlsARTennessee: #293 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 2,144 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #214 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 1,317 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #195 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 1,165 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #227 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,293 girlsOKLouisiana: #150 for girls · 25 births · 1 in 673 girlsLAMississippi: #181 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 830 girlsMSAlabama: #228 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 1,369 girlsALGeorgia: #278 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 2,073 girlsGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedHITexas: #306 for girls · 26 births · 1 in 1,658 girlsTXFlorida: #227 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 1,199 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Wyoming#66 · 1 in 185
  2. Oregon#79 · 1 in 275
  3. Kansas#120 · 1 in 557
  4. Idaho#122 · 1 in 385
  5. Washington#136 · 1 in 711

Best ever in a state: #47 in Idaho, 1910.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Wyoming#6651 in 185
Oregon#79171 in 275
Kansas#120241 in 557
Idaho#12281 in 385
Washington#136111 in 711
Louisiana#150251 in 673
South Dakota#15071 in 723
Montana#15951 in 867
Michigan#161301 in 927
Minnesota#163211 in 945
Mississippi#181201 in 830
Iowa#186171 in 1,117
Utah#18851 in 806
Arkansas#189181 in 860
South Carolina#195151 in 1,165
Maryland#20081 in 1,499
California#207151 in 1,243
Ohio#209281 in 1,630
West Virginia#212121 in 1,233
North Carolina#214221 in 1,317
North Dakota#21651 in 1,334
Pennsylvania#216431 in 2,029
Florida#22771 in 1,199
Missouri#227171 in 1,554
Oklahoma#227131 in 1,293
Alabama#228171 in 1,369
Nebraska#22871 in 1,496
Indiana#241121 in 1,904
Virginia#272101 in 2,299
Kentucky#275121 in 1,966
Georgia#278141 in 2,073
New York#279301 in 3,052
Tennessee#293101 in 2,144
Illinois#303171 in 3,134
Texas#306261 in 1,658
Wisconsin#35851 in 4,237
Alaska
Arizona
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Hawaii
Maine
Massachusetts
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
Rhode Island
Vermont

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Elma
Momentum · girls
Rising
  • 208 spots since 2024 (#4,560#4,352)
  • 1,973 spots since 2020 (#6,325#4,352)
  • 136 spots since 2015 (#4,488#4,352)
  • Biggest jump: 72 spots in 1958 (#1,072#1,000)
  • Biggest drop: 130 spots in 1959 (#1,000#1,130)
Rise & fade · girls
21 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1901 at #209 (189 births)
  • Births halved by 1957, 56 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 1,000 for 77 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: never
  • Top 1,000: 77 yrs · run 1880–1955
Share of babies · girls
1 in 1,266
  • Highest: 1 in 1,266 girls born in 1901 were named Elma (0.08%)
  • Latest: 1 in 50,227 girls born in 2025 (0.00%)
Era · girls
The 1920s
  • 23.0% of all girls named Elma (4,990) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s643#222 (1886)#248
1890s1,355#218 (1897)#230
1900s1,940#209 (1901)#229
1910s4,802#233 (1912)#246
1920s4,990#266 (1920)#297
1930s2,793#339 (1931)#392
1940s1,810#470 (1940)#572
1950s1,139#717 (1950)#920
1960s654#1,020 (1960)#1,431
1970s329#1,937 (1971)#2,489
1980s196#3,144 (1984)#4,292
1990s183#3,443 (1999)#5,523
2000s411#2,956 (2003)#3,610
2010s298#4,216 (2012)#4,697
2020s160#4,326 (2021)#5,021

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Elma in 1915

girls
#245
575 births · 1 in 1,711 girls
boys
#2,184
12 births · 1 in 70,715 boys

Top girls' names in 1915

  1. #1Mary58,187
  2. #2Helen30,866
  3. #3Dorothy25,154
  4. #4Margaret23,054
  5. #5Ruth21,878
  6. #6Mildred15,254
  7. #7Anna15,119
  8. #8Elizabeth14,103
  9. #9Frances12,786
  10. #10Evelyn11,595
  11. #245Elma575

Top boys' names in 1915

  1. #1John47,576
  2. #2William38,563
  3. #3James33,773
  4. #4Robert28,737
  5. #5Joseph23,051
  6. #6George22,307
  7. #7Charles21,960
  8. #8Edward15,889
  9. #9Frank15,006
  10. #10Thomas11,490
  11. #2,184Elma12
More about 1915

girls

983,852 girls got a published name in 1915; 1 in 1,711 of them was named Elma, which outranked 95.1% of the 4,967 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.2% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Elma
  1. #242Estella599
  2. #243Carol596
  3. #244Flossie582
  4. #245Elma575
  5. #245Gwendolyn575
  6. #247Janie571
  7. #248Eleanore570
  8. #249Ernestine564

Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1914
Risers
  1. 500Gerda#1,444#944
  2. 451Theda#1,034#583
  3. 441Dominga#1,385#944
  4. 354Vernon#1,344#990
  5. 308Loyce#1,147#839
Fallers
  1. 383Drusilla#956#1,339
  2. 342Rossie#798#1,140
  3. 335Arlie#855#1,190
  4. 329Orene#956#1,285
  5. 329Margot#988#1,317

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

848,575 boys got a published name in 1915; 1 in 70,715 of them was named Elma, which outranked 50.3% of the 4,390 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 30.4% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Elma
  1. #2,070Yutaka13
  2. #2,070Zigmond13
  3. #2,070Zygmund13
  4. #2,184Elma12
  5. #2,184Adalbert12
  6. #2,184Albion12
  7. #2,184Aldon12
  8. #2,310Abbie11
  9. #2,310Agapito11
  10. #2,310Agostino11

Tied with 125 names at #2,184; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1914
Risers
  1. 691Eston#1,687#996
  2. 565Estill#1,545#980
  3. 545Garth#1,260#715
  4. 474Hiroshi#1,342#868
  5. 439Domingo#1,101#662
Fallers
  1. 674Gilmore#986#1,660
  2. 667Barnett#933#1,600
  3. 526Rose#884#1,410
  4. 517Toivo#855#1,372
  5. 461Sampson#949#1,410

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1915