Emelda
A feminine name of Germanic origin meaning "industrious worker".
Name Census estimates that about 559 living Americans carry the first name Emelda. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Emelda today is around 63 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Emelda births was 1926 (34 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Emelda. 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.
People living today
559
~ 1 in 613,156 Americans
Peak year
1926
34 babies that year
Average age
63
years old
2019 SSA rank
#16,255
Tracked since 1907
Popularity
Emelda: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Emelda from the 1900s through to the 2010s, spanning 12 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 288 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
Emelda 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 Emelda during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Emeldas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. Louisiana, Texas, California recorded the most babies named Emelda, while California, Texas, Louisiana recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 251 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Emelda
The given name Emelda has its roots in the Germanic languages, specifically derived from the Old German elements "amal," meaning "work" or "labor," and "hild," meaning "battle" or "combat." This combination suggests a meaning along the lines of "diligent worker" or "industrious laborer."
In its earliest recorded forms, the name appeared as "Amalinda" or "Amalinda" in ancient Germanic texts and chronicles. Over time, the name evolved through various spellings, such as "Amelda" and "Emelda," before settling into its modern form.
While the name does not have a direct connection to religious texts or ancient scriptures, it was likely influenced by the cultural values of early Germanic tribes, who placed great emphasis on hard work, perseverance, and valor in battle.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Emelda was a Frankish noblewoman who lived in the 8th century. She was known for her philanthropic efforts and her support of monastic communities in the region.
In the 11th century, Emelda of Altdorf, a German abbess, played a significant role in the establishment of a convent in the town of Altdorf, Bavaria. Her dedication to religious life and her leadership within the monastic community earned her recognition and respect.
During the Renaissance period, Emelda Ridolfi (1457-1529), an Italian noblewoman and philanthropist, was known for her charitable works and her patronage of the arts. She was instrumental in the construction of several churches and public buildings in Florence.
In the 19th century, Emelda Navarra (1829-1904), an Italian educator and activist, fought for women's rights and advocated for improved educational opportunities for girls. Her efforts laid the foundation for greater gender equality in Italy.
More recently, Emelda Smikle (1914-2005), a Jamaican educator and community leader, played a pivotal role in promoting literacy and education in her home country. She was recognized for her contributions with numerous awards and honors.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Emelda throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human experience.
People
Emelda + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Emelda 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
Emelda: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Emelda?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 559 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Emelda 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 613,156 US residents.
Is Emelda a common name?
We classify Emelda as "Very Rare". It ranks above 85.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,396 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Emelda most popular?
The single biggest year for Emelda was 1926, when 34 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Emelda is about 63 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Emelda a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Emelda 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.