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#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201923peak #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 1923

  • 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: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedWAIdaho: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: #164 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 820 girlsNDMinnesota: #200 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 1,431 girlsMNIllinois: #309 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 3,294 girlsILWisconsin: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedWIMichigan: #240 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 2,134 girlsMINew York: #348 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 4,982 girlsNYMassachusetts: #357 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 6,076 girlsMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedRIOregon: #165 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 860 girlsORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedSDIowa: #250 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 2,138 girlsIAIndiana: #281 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 2,995 girlsINOhio: #258 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 2,435 girlsOHPennsylvania: #262 for girls · 33 births · 1 in 2,917 girlsPANew Jersey: #274 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 3,516 girlsNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #261 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 1,896 girlsCAUtah: #111 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 423 girlsUTColorado: #239 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 1,498 girlsCONebraska: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedNEMissouri: #387 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 3,885 girlsMOKentucky: #260 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 1,882 girlsKYWest Virginia: #188 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 1,089 girlsWVVirginia: #422 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 5,652 girlsVAMaryland: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedMDDelaware: 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: #210 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,278 girlsKSArkansas: #365 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 2,555 girlsARTennessee: #290 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 2,373 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #209 for girls · 30 births · 1 in 1,309 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #218 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 1,481 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #315 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 2,112 girlsOKLouisiana: #207 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 958 girlsLAMississippi: #200 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 1,018 girlsMSAlabama: #250 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 1,732 girlsALGeorgia: #283 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 2,296 girlsGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedHITexas: #350 for girls · 31 births · 1 in 1,878 girlsTXFlorida: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Utah#111 · 1 in 423
  2. North Dakota#164 · 1 in 820
  3. Oregon#165 · 1 in 860
  4. West Virginia#188 · 1 in 1,089
  5. Mississippi#200 · 1 in 1,018

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Utah#111121 in 423
North Dakota#16481 in 820
Oregon#16571 in 860
West Virginia#188191 in 1,089
Minnesota#200161 in 1,431
Mississippi#200221 in 1,018
Louisiana#207241 in 958
North Carolina#209301 in 1,309
Kansas#210131 in 1,278
South Carolina#218161 in 1,481
Colorado#23961 in 1,498
Michigan#240181 in 2,134
Alabama#250181 in 1,732
Iowa#250101 in 2,138
Ohio#258231 in 2,435
Kentucky#260161 in 1,882
California#261181 in 1,896
Pennsylvania#262331 in 2,917
New Jersey#27491 in 3,516
Indiana#28191 in 2,995
Georgia#283151 in 2,296
Tennessee#290121 in 2,373
Illinois#309181 in 3,294
Oklahoma#315121 in 2,112
New York#348201 in 4,982
Texas#350311 in 1,878
Massachusetts#35761 in 6,076
Arkansas#36581 in 2,555
Missouri#38781 in 3,885
Virginia#42251 in 5,652
Alaska———
Arizona———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Florida———
Hawaii———
Idaho———
Maine———
Maryland———
Montana———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Mexico———
Rhode Island———
South Dakota———
Vermont———
Washington———
Wisconsin———
Wyoming———

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 1923

girls
#289
494 births · 1 in 2,442 girls
boys
#1,874
18 births · 1 in 60,895 boys

Top girls' names in 1923

  1. #1Mary71,634
  2. #2Dorothy39,043
  3. #3Helen31,486
  4. #4Margaret26,134
  5. #5Betty25,989
  6. #6Ruth23,637
  7. #7Virginia18,325
  8. #8Mildred15,989
  9. #9Elizabeth15,459
  10. #10Frances14,881
  11. #289Elma494

Top boys' names in 1923

  1. #1John57,467
  2. #2Robert56,111
  3. #3William52,136
  4. #4James50,462
  5. #5Charles28,966
  6. #6George27,025
  7. #7Joseph25,561
  8. #8Edward20,597
  9. #9Richard18,887
  10. #10Donald16,433
  11. #1,874Elma18
More about 1923

girls

1,206,366 girls got a published name in 1923; 1 in 2,442 of them was named Elma, which outranked 95.0% of the 5,739 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.4% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Elma
  1. #286Bernadine516
  2. #287Margery515
  3. #288Flossie505
  4. #289Elma494
  5. #289Lee494
  6. #291Darlene493
  7. #292Marcia492
  8. #293Mollie491

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

Biggest movers since 1922
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,834Eris#2,291 → #457
  2. ↑ 619Penny#1,508 → #889
  3. ↑ 317Laurene#1,309 → #992
  4. ↑ 310Cruz#1,103 → #793
  5. ↑ 306Dorene#1,207 → #901
Fallers
  1. ↓ 321Veva#962 → #1,283
  2. ↓ 318Arlie#949 → #1,267
  3. ↓ 305Gaynell#978 → #1,283
  4. ↓ 303Trinidad#449 → #752
  5. ↓ 300Laurine#897 → #1,197

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

boys

1,096,102 boys got a published name in 1923; 1 in 60,895 of them was named Elma, which outranked 61.8% of the 4,904 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 32.3% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Elma
  1. #1,816Vladimir19
  2. #1,816Woodroe19
  3. #1,816Yoshito19
  4. #1,874Elma18
  5. #1,874Achille18
  6. #1,874Adelard18
  7. #1,874Ancil18
  8. #1,941Abie17
  9. #1,941Alban17
  10. #1,941Alexis17

Tied with 66 names at #1,874; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1922
Risers
  1. ↑ 403Marcos#1,333 → #930
  2. ↑ 341Armin#1,333 → #992
  3. ↑ 309Betty#1,222 → #913
  4. ↑ 309Godfrey#1,222 → #913
  5. ↑ 308Val#1,181 → #873
Fallers
  1. ↓ 1,021Harden#999 → #2,020
  2. ↓ 472Buel#850 → #1,322
  3. ↓ 420Trinidad#485 → #905
  4. ↓ 304Gorden#722 → #1,026
  5. ↓ 288Joy#840 → #1,128

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

See the top 100 for 1923 →