Elma
A feminine name of Spanish origin meaning "the world" or "the universe".
Name Census estimates that about 4,275 living Americans carry the first name Elma. It is a predominantly female name (97.8% of registrations). The average person named Elma today is around 61 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Elma births was 1918 (674 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Elma. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Although Elma is used almost entirely for girls, the SSA data does show 483 boys registered with the name since 1880.
People living today
4.3K
~ 1 in 80,176 Americans
Peak year
1918
674 babies that year
Average age
61
years old
1957 SSA rank
#3,089
Tracked since 1880
Gender
Gender distribution for Elma
Elma leans heavily female at 97.8% of total registrations, but 483 boys have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Elma as a male name
- Ranked #3,089 in 1957
- 8 male births in 1957
- Peak: 1916 (23 births)
Elma as a female name
- Ranked #4,575 in 2024
- 30 female births in 2024
- Peak: 1918 (659 births)
Popularity
Elma: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Elma from the 1880s through to the 2020s, spanning 15 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 5,161 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Elma by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Elma during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Elmas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 41 states and territories. Texas, North Carolina, Pennsylvania recorded the most babies named Elma, while Wyoming, Arizona, Massachusetts recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 353 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Elma
The name Elma is believed to have its origins in the Germanic languages, derived from the Old Germanic word "alja," meaning "other" or "foreign." The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the Middle Ages, when it was commonly used as a feminine name in various Germanic regions.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name Elma was Elma of Wurttemberg, a German noblewoman who lived in the 13th century. She was known for her charitable works and her support of the arts and literature.
In the 14th century, Elma von Halberstadt, a German poet and writer, gained recognition for her works exploring themes of love and spirituality. Her collection of poems, titled "Elma's Verses," was widely circulated during her lifetime and served as an inspiration for later generations of writers.
During the Renaissance period, Elma Farnese, an Italian noblewoman and patron of the arts, played a significant role in the cultural life of Rome. She was a generous supporter of artists and intellectuals, and her patronage helped to foster the development of the arts during the 16th century.
In the 19th century, Elma Partenheimer, a German feminist and activist, made significant contributions to the women's rights movement. She advocated for equal rights and education opportunities for women and was a prominent figure in the German feminist movement of the time.
Another notable bearer of the name Elma was Elma Stuckey, an American author and poet who lived from 1856 to 1935. Her works often explored themes of nature and spirituality, and she was celebrated for her lyrical and evocative writing style.
Throughout history, the name Elma has been carried by individuals from various backgrounds and professions, each leaving their mark on the world in their own unique way. While the name's origins can be traced back to the Germanic languages, its enduring appeal has transcended cultural and geographical boundaries, making it a timeless and versatile choice for parents around the world.
People
Elma + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Elma as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with E
Other first names starting with E with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Elma: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Elma?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 4,275 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Elma going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 80,176 US residents.
Is Elma a common name?
We classify Elma as "Rare". It ranks above 96.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 22,152 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Elma most popular?
The single biggest year for Elma was 1918, when 674 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Elma is about 61 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Elma a female name?
Yes, 97.8% of people registered as Elma in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.