Velma

#5,722 for girls in 2025, 21 births · Last seen for boys in 1955 at #2,558
Given to girls 99.5% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1912 · 1,403 births
Debut · girls
16 births
In top 100 · girls
14 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · girls
86,752
since 1880

Velma over time

girls

Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201923peak #88, 1912girls
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#5,72221
2024#7,96713
2023#5,54922
2022#5,17225
2021#7,25015
2020#7,21215
2019#7,71614
2018#5,78521
2017#11,6158
2016#12,8767
2015#14,4826
2014#8,48513
2013#11,0009
2012#16,8695
2011#7,78315
2010#11,2469
2009#10,67910
2008#15,4056
2007#17,6365
2006#11,4179
2005#13,0107
2004#7,82814
2003#9,04811
2002#7,44414
2001#10,1029
2000#8,02712
1999#7,71612
1998#6,07316
1997#7,74211
1996#7,13012
1995#6,64113
1994#5,01619
1993#4,82620
1992#6,00815
1991#2,88640
1990#3,29733
1989#3,25332
1988#2,80337
1987#2,49341
1986#2,34443
1985#2,70435
1984#2,01850
1983#1,88755
1982#1,85058
1981#1,45583
1980#1,51878
1979#1,50378
1978#1,39783
1977#1,45176
1976#1,19195
1975#1,22993
1974#1,070110
1973#933131
1972#993120
1971#828167
1970#781181
1969#731191
1968#651222
1967#577273
1966#546299
1965#499362
1964#487395
1963#478407
1962#445464
1961#428524
1960#406559
1959#400550
1958#416502
1957#352668
1956#332692
1955#338634#2,55810
1954#309749#3,8275
1953#304737
1952#300706
1951#277798
1950#267825
1949#272798#3,2986
1948#254871
1947#259848
1946#242875#3,1736
1945#223861#2,7437
1944#211935#2,19511
1943#2011,046
1942#1961,052
1941#1881,000
1940#188986#2,6718
1939#1781,068#3,4805
1938#1741,160#2,32610
1937#1641,218#3,5185
1936#1671,180#2,18411
1935#1471,352#2,02913
1934#1441,426#2,5639
1933#1371,481#2,7388
1932#1331,689#1,46523
1931#1311,758#2,47110
1930#1271,918#1,96415
1929#1281,930#2,09614
1928#1142,290#2,27013
1927#1182,285#2,52311
1926#1242,120#1,84618
1925#1282,177#1,62822
1924#1232,272#1,77620
1923#1162,337#2,44612
1922#1132,367#2,80110
1921#1082,606#3,5177
1920#1052,491#1,88518
1919#1042,341#1,57622
1918#1032,439#2,26013
1917#982,411#2,42311
1916#992,319#2,38911
1915#942,287#2,18412
1914#921,795#2,4578
1913#891,556#1,44114
1912#881,403#2,5445
1911#901,045#1,2908
1910#901,035#1,1938
1909#92857#1,0838
1908#90860#1,2176
1907#90854#1,2006
1906#94721
1905#94722
1904#101615#1,0646
1903#99589
1902#113526
1901#130388#1,0585
1900#141426
1899#139334
1898#152331
1897#160280
1896#174249
1895#188208
1894#189196
1893#201156
1892#212146
1891#236103
1890#25496
1889#28172
1888#28667
1887#27459
1886#37133
1885#35432
1884#47918
1883#36625
1882#44617
1881#38419
1880#42116
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Velma was already there! It came in at #421, and was given to 16 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 2007–2008, when fewer than 7 girls a year got the name.

Where Velma is popular in 1923

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedAKMaine: #139 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 607 girlsMEVermont: #80 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 257 girlsVTNew Hampshire: #120 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 486 girlsNHWashington: #110 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 496 girlsWAIdaho: #40 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 160 girlsIDMontana: #130 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 598 girlsMTNorth Dakota: #164 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 820 girlsNDMinnesota: #189 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 1,347 girlsMNIllinois: #127 for girls · 97 births · 1 in 611 girlsILWisconsin: #177 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 1,243 girlsWIMichigan: #142 for girls · 47 births · 1 in 817 girlsMINew York: #312 for girls · 26 births · 1 in 3,832 girlsNYMassachusetts: #237 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 2,804 girlsMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedRIOregon: #64 for girls · 25 births · 1 in 241 girlsORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedNVWyoming: #60 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 194 girlsWYSouth Dakota: #59 for girls · 31 births · 1 in 205 girlsSDIowa: #62 for girls · 89 births · 1 in 240 girlsIAIndiana: #87 for girls · 73 births · 1 in 369 girlsINOhio: #137 for girls · 74 births · 1 in 757 girlsOHPennsylvania: #154 for girls · 93 births · 1 in 1,035 girlsPANew Jersey: #320 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 4,521 girlsNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #122 for girls · 65 births · 1 in 525 girlsCAUtah: #72 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 282 girlsUTColorado: #89 for girls · 25 births · 1 in 360 girlsCONebraska: #71 for girls · 44 births · 1 in 279 girlsNEMissouri: #45 for girls · 143 births · 1 in 217 girlsMOKentucky: #126 for girls · 54 births · 1 in 558 girlsKYWest Virginia: #83 for girls · 63 births · 1 in 329 girlsWVVirginia: #142 for girls · 39 births · 1 in 725 girlsVAMaryland: #185 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 1,207 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedDEArizona: #120 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 420 girlsAZNew Mexico: #101 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 342 girlsNMKansas: #44 for girls · 85 births · 1 in 195 girlsKSArkansas: #44 for girls · 108 births · 1 in 189 girlsARTennessee: #63 for girls · 109 births · 1 in 261 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #141 for girls · 58 births · 1 in 677 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #165 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 878 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #38 for girls · 149 births · 1 in 170 girlsOKLouisiana: #53 for girls · 110 births · 1 in 209 girlsLAMississippi: #52 for girls · 109 births · 1 in 205 girlsMSAlabama: #84 for girls · 100 births · 1 in 312 girlsALGeorgia: #126 for girls · 60 births · 1 in 574 girlsGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedHITexas: #67 for girls · 197 births · 1 in 296 girlsTXFlorida: #124 for girls · 25 births · 1 in 473 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Oklahoma#38 · 1 in 170
  2. Idaho#40 · 1 in 160
  3. Arkansas#44 · 1 in 189
  4. Kansas#44 · 1 in 195
  5. Missouri#45 · 1 in 217

Best ever in a state: #12 in Kansas, 1910.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Oklahoma#381491 in 170
Idaho#40241 in 160
Arkansas#441081 in 189
Kansas#44851 in 195
Missouri#451431 in 217
Mississippi#521091 in 205
Louisiana#531101 in 209
South Dakota#59311 in 205
Wyoming#6091 in 194
Iowa#62891 in 240
Tennessee#631091 in 261
Oregon#64251 in 241
Texas#671971 in 296
Nebraska#71441 in 279
Utah#72181 in 282
Vermont#80101 in 257
West Virginia#83631 in 329
Alabama#841001 in 312
Indiana#87731 in 369
Colorado#89251 in 360
New Mexico#101121 in 342
Washington#110201 in 496
Arizona#12081 in 420
New Hampshire#12071 in 486
California#122651 in 525
Florida#124251 in 473
Georgia#126601 in 574
Kentucky#126541 in 558
Illinois#127971 in 611
Montana#13071 in 598
Ohio#137741 in 757
Maine#139111 in 607
North Carolina#141581 in 677
Michigan#142471 in 817
Virginia#142391 in 725
Pennsylvania#154931 in 1,035
North Dakota#16481 in 820
South Carolina#165271 in 878
Wisconsin#177201 in 1,243
Maryland#185121 in 1,207
Minnesota#189171 in 1,347
Massachusetts#237131 in 2,804
New York#312261 in 3,832
New Jersey#32071 in 4,521
Alaska
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Hawaii
Nevada
Rhode Island

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 Velma
Momentum · girls
Rising
  • 2,245 spots since 2024 (#7,967#5,722)
  • 1,490 spots since 2020 (#7,212#5,722)
  • 8,760 spots since 2015 (#14,482#5,722)
  • Biggest jump: 125 spots in 1885 (#479#354)
  • Biggest drop: 165 spots in 1972 (#828#993)
Rise & fade · girls
32 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1912 at #88 (1,403 births)
  • Births halved by 1955, 43 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 100 for 14 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 14 yrs · run 1905–1917
  • Top 1,000: 94 yrs · run 1880–1973
Share of babies · girls
1 in 373
  • Highest: 1 in 373 girls born in 1907 were named Velma (0.27%)
  • Latest: 1 in 76,537 girls born in 2025 (0.00%)
  • Its best rank, #88 in 1912, was only 1 in 398 (0.25%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · girls
The 1920s
  • 26.4% of all girls named Velma (22,875) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s358#274 (1887)#366
1890s2,099#139 (1899)#191
1900s6,558#90 (1908)#104
1910s18,631#88 (1912)#95
1920s22,875#105 (1920)#118
1930s14,250#127 (1930)#150
1940s9,272#188 (1941)#223
1950s6,861#267 (1950)#330
1960s3,696#406 (1960)#525
1970s1,134#781 (1970)#1,138
1980s512#1,455 (1981)#2,233
1990s191#2,886 (1991)#5,734
2000s97#7,444 (2002)#11,060
2010s107#5,785 (2018)#10,786
2020s111#5,172 (2022)#6,479

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.

Velma in 1923

girls
#116
2,337 births · 1 in 516 girls
boys
#2,446
12 births · 1 in 91,342 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. #116Velma2,337

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. #2,446Velma12
More about 1923

girls

1,206,366 girls got a published name in 1923; 1 in 516 of them was named Velma, which outranked 98.0% 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 Velma
  1. #113Opal2,365
  2. #114Muriel2,360
  3. #115Marguerite2,357
  4. #116Velma2,337
  5. #117Joan2,304
  6. #118Marilyn2,286
  7. #119Blanche2,266
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 91,342 of them was named Velma, which outranked 50.1% 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 Velma
  1. #2,331Worley13
  2. #2,331Wray13
  3. #2,331Zoltan13
  4. #2,446Velma12
  5. #2,446Abran12
  6. #2,446Adren12
  7. #2,446Albion12
  8. #2,614Abbie11
  9. #2,614Agnes11
  10. #2,614Agostino11

Tied with 167 names at #2,446; 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