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#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201934peak #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 1934

  • 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: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedNDMinnesota: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedMNIllinois: #479 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 7,065 girlsILWisconsin: #343 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 4,431 girlsWIMichigan: #350 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 4,575 girlsMINew York: #496 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 9,196 girlsNYMassachusetts: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedRIOregon: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedORNevada: 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: #244 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 2,261 girlsIAIndiana: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedINOhio: #389 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 5,622 girlsOHPennsylvania: #396 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 6,465 girlsPANew Jersey: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #452 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 4,887 girlsCAUtah: #187 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 881 girlsUTColorado: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedCONebraska: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedNEMissouri: #431 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 5,405 girlsMOKentucky: #346 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 3,032 girlsKYWest Virginia: #191 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 1,017 girlsWVVirginia: #353 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 3,827 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: #247 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 1,647 girlsKSArkansas: #318 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 2,085 girlsARTennessee: #313 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 2,677 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #257 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 1,823 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #326 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 2,970 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #353 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 2,822 girlsOKLouisiana: #218 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 1,037 girlsLAMississippi: #287 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 1,941 girlsMSAlabama: #402 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 4,192 girlsALGeorgia: #334 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 3,030 girlsGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedHITexas: #335 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 1,972 girlsTXFlorida: fewer than 5 girls named Elma, so not publishedFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Utah#187 · 1 in 881
  2. West Virginia#191 · 1 in 1,017
  3. Louisiana#218 · 1 in 1,037
  4. Iowa#244 · 1 in 2,261
  5. Kansas#247 · 1 in 1,647

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Utah#18751 in 881
West Virginia#191181 in 1,017
Louisiana#218201 in 1,037
Iowa#24481 in 2,261
Kansas#24781 in 1,647
North Carolina#257201 in 1,823
Mississippi#287111 in 1,941
Tennessee#313101 in 2,677
Arkansas#31891 in 2,085
South Carolina#32671 in 2,970
Georgia#334101 in 3,030
Texas#335291 in 1,972
Wisconsin#34351 in 4,431
Kentucky#34691 in 3,032
Michigan#35081 in 4,575
Oklahoma#35381 in 2,822
Virginia#35361 in 3,827
Ohio#38981 in 5,622
Pennsylvania#396111 in 6,465
Alabama#40271 in 4,192
Missouri#43151 in 5,405
California#45271 in 4,887
Illinois#47971 in 7,065
New York#49691 in 9,196
Alaska———
Arizona———
Colorado———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Florida———
Hawaii———
Idaho———
Indiana———
Maine———
Maryland———
Massachusetts———
Minnesota———
Montana———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Jersey———
New Mexico———
North Dakota———
Oregon———
Rhode Island———
South Dakota———
Vermont———
Washington———
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 1934

girls
#375
285 births · 1 in 3,664 girls
boys
#2,393
10 births · 1 in 103,260 boys

Top girls' names in 1934

  1. #1Mary56,929
  2. #2Betty31,089
  3. #3Barbara29,239
  4. #4Shirley22,841
  5. #5Dorothy21,281
  6. #6Patricia20,844
  7. #7Joan19,465
  8. #8Margaret15,144
  9. #9Helen14,100
  10. #10Nancy13,520
  11. #375Elma285

Top boys' names in 1934

  1. #1Robert55,843
  2. #2James54,270
  3. #3John46,743
  4. #4William40,175
  5. #5Richard33,167
  6. #6Donald30,408
  7. #7Charles29,790
  8. #8George18,500
  9. #9Thomas17,373
  10. #10Joseph17,111
  11. #2,393Elma10
More about 1934

girls

1,044,225 girls got a published name in 1934; 1 in 3,664 of them was named Elma, which outranked 92.5% of the 4,973 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. #372Dawn288
  2. #372Gretchen288
  3. #372Marylou288
  4. #375Elma285
  5. #376Christina284
  6. #376Guadalupe284
  7. #376Mollie284
Biggest movers since 1933
Risers
  1. ↑ 571Luann#1,442 → #871
  2. ↑ 469Alison#1,442 → #973
  3. ↑ 439Golda#1,364 → #925
  4. ↑ 350Ronald#1,244 → #894
  5. ↑ 346Gale#1,102 → #756
Fallers
  1. ↓ 685Nira#463 → #1,148
  2. ↓ 342Vina#782 → #1,124
  3. ↓ 316Zita#947 → #1,263
  4. ↓ 299Myrtie#834 → #1,133
  5. ↓ 278Theola#985 → #1,263

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

boys

1,032,596 boys got a published name in 1934; 1 in 103,260 of them was named Elma, which outranked 43.1% of the 4,205 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.3% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Elma
  1. #2,266Yoshio11
  2. #2,266Yukio11
  3. #2,266Zachary11
  4. #2,393Elma10
  5. #2,393Abbott10
  6. #2,393Addie10
  7. #2,393Alger10
  8. #2,563Abelino9
  9. #2,563Abie9
  10. #2,563Acey9

Tied with 169 names at #2,393; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1933
Risers
  1. ↑ 746Lanny#1,361 → #615
  2. ↑ 630Kerry#1,586 → #956
  3. ↑ 620Marland#1,456 → #836
  4. ↑ 404Kirk#1,202 → #798
  5. ↑ 350Valentin#1,281 → #931
Fallers
  1. ↓ 730Neville#995 → #1,725
  2. ↓ 616Garner#770 → #1,386
  3. ↓ 520Vivian#905 → #1,425
  4. ↓ 488Finis#869 → #1,357
  5. ↓ 464Malcom#961 → #1,425

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

See the top 100 for 1934 →