How Many People Are Named Zelma?

Complete statistics for the name Zelma: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.

Zelma
Very Rare
Germanic

Zelma is a very rare female name, with only 3,234 people bearing it today, making up just 1 in 102,050 Americans. This classic name peaked way back in 1919 with 494 births, showing its timeless appeal. With most Zelmans over 60, it's clear this name skews towards older generations.

~3,234
Living in US
1 in 102,050
Americans
1919
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
Creative variant of Zella
🌐
Origin
Germanic
🌟
Lucky Day
Wednesday
💎
Lucky Stone
Aquamarine
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 3
Personality Traits
Traditional Dignified Resilient
3
Life Path Number

Life-path number 3 symbolizes creativity, self-expression, and joy.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

3,234
Worldwide Bearers
#36,629
Global Rank
🇨🇦 Canada
168
🇦🇺 Australia
161
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England
143
🇱🇹 Lithuania
137
🇵🇭 Philippines
136
🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea
114
🇷🇴 Romania
72
🇨🇱 Chile
67
🇺🇾 Uruguay
62
🇮🇩 Indonesia
60

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
7 (0%)
♀ Female
3,227 (100%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 100
220
Would be under 30 (1%)
389
Would be 30–60 (2%)
16,291
Would be over 60 (96%)

All 16,900 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: 1919

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Rising

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
98
Classic Feel
98
Modern Appeal
2
International
5

Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency

📜 Zelma Through the Generations

Zelma, a name steeped in history, has seen a resurgence in recent years, though it remains a rare gem among names. Born in the early 20th century, Zelma reached its peak popularity in 1919 with 494 births, marking a high point in its legacy. Today, the majority of those named Zelma are over 60, with only 220 individuals under 30, indicating a strong generational skew. its rarity, Zelma continues to be cherished, embodying a sense of tradition and elegance.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

Texas 1,425
Kentucky 913
Oklahoma 737
Tennessee 693
Missouri 667
Arkansas 653
North Carolina 612
Georgia 498
Illinois 489
Ohio 484

⭐ Famous People Named Zelma

Zelma is a primarily feminine given name, a variant of the name Selma.…

Full list on Wikipedia →

✨ Similar Names to Zelma

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Zelma's Germanic roots

📄 About the Name Zelma

How Many People Have the Name Zelma?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 3,234 people in the United States currently share the name Zelma. That works out to roughly 1 in every 102,050 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.

Is Zelma a Common or Rare Name?

Zelma is classified as Very 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 Zelma Mean?

Zelma means "creative variant of Zella" and comes from Germanic origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 3.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Zelma in SSA data, approximately 0% are male and 100% are female.

When Was Zelma Most Popular?

The name Zelma reached peak popularity in 1919, with 494 babies registered that year. Current trend: Rising.

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 Zelma?

Approximately 3,234 people named Zelma live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 16,900. That works out to roughly 1 in 102,050 Americans.

Is Zelma a rare name?

Zelma is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 102,050 Americans has this name.

What does the name Zelma mean?

Zelma means "creative variant of Zella" and comes from Germanic origins.

Is Zelma more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 0% of people named Zelma are male and 100% are female.

When was Zelma most popular?

Zelma peaked in 1919 with 494 births that year. Current trend: Rising.

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.

Disclaimer: All results are statistical estimates based on aggregated SSA birth records and modeling. Not exact counts of individuals. Data source: SSA National Baby Names dataset.
Quick Stats
Living in US3,234
All-Time Births16,900
1 in X1 in 102,050
RarityVery Rare
GenderFemale
Avg Age100
Peak Year1919
World Rank#36,629
Male %0%
Female %100%

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Data Source

Powered by the SSA National Baby Names dataset, birth registrations from 1880 to present.

All counts are statistical estimates. See the methodology page.