How Many People Are Named Thelma?
Complete statistics for the name Thelma: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Thelma is a classic, old-school name with Greek roots, thought to mean 'will' or 'volition'. About 41,143 people named Thelma are living in the US today, making it genuinely rare at 1 in 8,021 Americans. Its heyday was over a century ago, which makes it one of the more historically distant names still carried by living people.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life path number 5 is traditionally associated with freedom, adaptability, and a restless curiosity about the world. People connected to the number 5 are said to embrace change and live life on their own terms.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 99All 226,566 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1921Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Stable
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Thelma Through the Generations
Thelma had a long run at the top, spending 17 years in the US top 10 and peaking in 1921 with 7,871 babies born in a single year. Over 226,566 Thelmas have been born in the US all time, but only 41,143 are estimated to be living today, a gap that reflects just how far back the name's popularity stretches. A striking 97% of living Thelmas are over 60, and the average age sits at 99, which tells you almost everything about when this name had its moment. Only 908 Thelmas are under 30, compared to 220,208 over 60. The trend is stable, but that stability is quiet, there simply aren't many new Thelmas arriving to shift the numbers. It's a name that belongs almost entirely to one generation, and those numbers make that crystal clear.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Thelma
Thelma is a female given name. It was popularized by Victorian writer Marie Corelli who gave the name to the title character of her 1887 novel Thelma. Although the character was supposed to be Norwegian, it is not a traditional Scandinavian name. It may be related to a Greek word meaning "will, volition" see Thelema). Note that although consonant with another female given name, Selma, the two are not synonymous.…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Thelma's Greek roots
📄 About the Name Thelma
How Many People Have the Name Thelma?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 41,143 people in the United States currently share the name Thelma. That works out to roughly 1 in every 8,021 Americans, placing it in the Rare category.
Is Thelma a Common or Rare Name?
Thelma is classified as Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Thelma Mean?
Thelma means "will, volition" and comes from Greek origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 5.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Thelma in SSA data, approximately 0% are male and 100% are female.
When Was Thelma Most Popular?
The name Thelma reached peak popularity in 1921, with 7,871 babies registered that year. Current trend: Stable.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Thelma?
Approximately 41,143 people named Thelma live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 226,566. That works out to roughly 1 in 8,021 Americans.
Is Thelma a rare name?
Thelma is classified as Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 8,021 Americans has this name.
What does the name Thelma mean?
Thelma means "will, volition" and comes from Greek origins.
Is Thelma more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 0% of people named Thelma are male and 100% are female.
When was Thelma most popular?
Thelma peaked in 1921 with 7,871 births that year. Current trend: Stable.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.