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#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201932peak #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 1932

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedAKMaine: #169 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 917 girlsMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: #113 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 610 girlsNHWashington: #153 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 800 girlsWAIdaho: #115 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 459 girlsIDMontana: #137 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 567 girlsMTNorth Dakota: #142 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 637 girlsNDMinnesota: #215 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 1,613 girlsMNIllinois: #143 for girls · 60 births · 1 in 842 girlsILWisconsin: #279 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 2,876 girlsWIMichigan: #133 for girls · 46 births · 1 in 798 girlsMINew York: #262 for girls · 33 births · 1 in 2,670 girlsNYMassachusetts: #276 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 3,739 girlsMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedRIOregon: #152 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 825 girlsORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: #118 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 488 girlsSDIowa: #109 for girls · 32 births · 1 in 556 girlsIAIndiana: #103 for girls · 44 births · 1 in 518 girlsINOhio: #115 for girls · 72 births · 1 in 635 girlsOHPennsylvania: #162 for girls · 64 births · 1 in 1,160 girlsPANew Jersey: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #176 for girls · 39 births · 1 in 878 girlsCAUtah: #135 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 538 girlsUTColorado: #95 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 342 girlsCONebraska: #92 for girls · 25 births · 1 in 407 girlsNEMissouri: #63 for girls · 92 births · 1 in 301 girlsMOKentucky: #124 for girls · 53 births · 1 in 516 girlsKYWest Virginia: #102 for girls · 45 births · 1 in 390 girlsWVVirginia: #135 for girls · 42 births · 1 in 584 girlsVAMaryland: #219 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 1,736 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedDEArizona: #102 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 342 girlsAZNew Mexico: #152 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 525 girlsNMKansas: #65 for girls · 42 births · 1 in 314 girlsKSArkansas: #41 for girls · 95 births · 1 in 197 girlsARTennessee: #80 for girls · 81 births · 1 in 335 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #129 for girls · 69 births · 1 in 532 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #240 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,604 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Velma, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #40 for girls · 104 births · 1 in 211 girlsOKLouisiana: #63 for girls · 78 births · 1 in 269 girlsLAMississippi: #77 for girls · 73 births · 1 in 302 girlsMSAlabama: #92 for girls · 79 births · 1 in 378 girlsALGeorgia: #132 for girls · 52 births · 1 in 591 girlsGAHawaii: #163 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 668 girlsHITexas: #76 for girls · 161 births · 1 in 349 girlsTXFlorida: #116 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 454 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Oklahoma#40 · 1 in 211
  2. Arkansas#41 · 1 in 197
  3. Louisiana#63 · 1 in 269
  4. Missouri#63 · 1 in 301
  5. Kansas#65 · 1 in 314

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Oklahoma#401041 in 211
Arkansas#41951 in 197
Louisiana#63781 in 269
Missouri#63921 in 301
Kansas#65421 in 314
Texas#761611 in 349
Mississippi#77731 in 302
Tennessee#80811 in 335
Alabama#92791 in 378
Nebraska#92251 in 407
Colorado#95231 in 342
Arizona#102111 in 342
West Virginia#102451 in 390
Indiana#103441 in 518
Iowa#109321 in 556
New Hampshire#11351 in 610
Idaho#11571 in 459
Ohio#115721 in 635
Florida#116271 in 454
South Dakota#118111 in 488
Kentucky#124531 in 516
North Carolina#129691 in 532
Georgia#132521 in 591
Michigan#133461 in 798
Utah#13581 in 538
Virginia#135421 in 584
Montana#13761 in 567
North Dakota#14291 in 637
Illinois#143601 in 842
New Mexico#15291 in 525
Oregon#15261 in 825
Washington#153111 in 800
Pennsylvania#162641 in 1,160
Hawaii#16351 in 668
Maine#16971 in 917
California#176391 in 878
Minnesota#215121 in 1,613
Maryland#21971 in 1,736
South Carolina#240131 in 1,604
New York#262331 in 2,670
Massachusetts#27681 in 3,739
Wisconsin#27981 in 2,876
Alaska
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Nevada
New Jersey
Rhode Island
Vermont
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 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 1932

girls
#133
1,689 births · 1 in 632 girls
boys
#1,465
23 births · 1 in 45,398 boys

Top girls' names in 1932

  1. #1Mary59,883
  2. #2Betty34,420
  3. #3Barbara26,318
  4. #4Dorothy24,974
  5. #5Joan21,044
  6. #6Patricia17,992
  7. #7Margaret16,556
  8. #8Helen16,376
  9. #9Shirley14,476
  10. #10Doris12,910
  11. #133Velma1,689

Top boys' names in 1932

  1. #1Robert59,268
  2. #2James51,930
  3. #3John48,624
  4. #4William42,124
  5. #5Richard31,809
  6. #6Charles31,092
  7. #7Donald29,794
  8. #8George20,439
  9. #9Joseph18,566
  10. #10Thomas16,834
  11. #1,465Velma23
More about 1932

girls

1,067,148 girls got a published name in 1932; 1 in 632 of them was named Velma, which outranked 97.4% of the 5,098 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.0% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Velma
  1. #130Sara1,759
  2. #131Rosa1,757
  3. #132Violet1,692
  4. #133Velma1,689
  5. #134Leona1,670
  6. #135Myrtle1,669
  7. #136Viola1,668
Biggest movers since 1931
Risers
  1. 963Dian#1,876#913
  2. 519Carleen#1,394#875
  3. 357Jimmy#1,336#979
  4. 347Letty#1,287#940
  5. 340Letitia#1,148#808
Fallers
  1. 350Blossom#970#1,320
  2. 332Luetta#844#1,176
  3. 305Roy#887#1,192
  4. 289Sofia#887#1,176
  5. 282Joretta#463#745

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

boys

1,044,157 boys got a published name in 1932; 1 in 45,398 of them was named Velma, which outranked 65.8% of the 4,284 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.6% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Velma
  1. #1,426Tyler24
  2. #1,426Vernard24
  3. #1,426Winifred24
  4. #1,465Velma23
  5. #1,465Arlington23
  6. #1,465Ashton23
  7. #1,465Barnett23
  8. #1,509Adolf22
  9. #1,509Alfonza22
  10. #1,509Amon22

Tied with 43 names at #1,465; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1931
Risers
  1. 2,418Delano#3,095#677
  2. 969Garner#1,643#674
  3. 868Ronny#1,770#902
  4. 713Darryl#1,693#980
  5. 609Marc#1,589#980
Fallers
  1. 467Jones#959#1,426
  2. 455Hamilton#831#1,286
  3. 393Hyman#697#1,090
  4. 373Davey#983#1,356
  5. 341Hayes#983#1,324

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

See the top 100 for 1932