Find out how popular the first name Nelda has been for the last 49 years (from 1974 to 2022) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Nelda by gender

Based on the last 49 years of data, Nelda is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2022, there were 7 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Nelda.

The history of the first name Nelda

The name Nelda is believed to be of German origin, derived from the Old High German name Nieldrud or Nielhild, which is composed of the elements "nil" meaning "battle" and "hild" meaning "combat" or "fight." It was a popular name among Germanic tribes during the Middle Ages.

In its earliest recorded use, the name Nelda appeared as a variant spelling of Nieldrud in medieval German records and manuscripts dating back to the 9th and 10th centuries. It was particularly prevalent in regions that are now part of modern-day Germany and Austria.

One of the earliest notable individuals recorded with the name Nelda was Nelda von Bamberg, a Benedictine abbess who lived in the 11th century and oversaw the expansion of the Michaelsberg Abbey in Bamberg, Germany.

In the 13th century, Nelda von Rottenburg, a German noblewoman, was mentioned in chronicles as a benefactor of the Rottenburg Cathedral, contributing funds for its construction and maintenance.

During the Renaissance period, Nelda Fiore, an Italian painter and illustrator born in 1475, gained recognition for her detailed botanical illustrations and illuminated manuscripts commissioned by wealthy patrons in Florence.

In the 17th century, Nelda Kräuter, a German herbalist and apothecary born in 1620, published one of the earliest German-language books on the medicinal properties of plants and their uses in traditional remedies.

Another notable figure with the name Nelda was Nelda Pickering, an American educator and activist born in 1876, who advocated for women's suffrage and played a significant role in the establishment of the Texas Woman's University.

While the name Nelda has its roots in the Germanic languages, its use has spread to other cultures and regions over time, though it remains relatively uncommon in modern times.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Nelda was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Nelda, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!