Nellda
A feminine name of Scandinavian origin meaning "prosperous" or "noble."
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Nellda. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Nellda today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Nellda births was 1906 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Nellda. 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
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Nellda. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1906
6 babies that year
Average age
-
1906 SSA rank
#1,883
Tracked since 1906
Popularity
Nellda: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Nellda 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 Nellda during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 0 | 6 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Nellda
The given name Nellda is a rare and intriguing moniker with a rich history that spans multiple cultures and languages. Its origins can be traced back to the Germanic language family, where it is believed to have originated as a variation of the Old Norse name Nelda or Nelida. This name is thought to be derived from the Old Norse words "nel" or "neli," meaning "brave" or "courageous."
In the early medieval era, the name Nellda gained popularity among the Norse peoples who inhabited the Scandinavian regions and parts of modern-day Germany and the Netherlands. It was often bestowed upon female infants as a way to imbue them with the qualities of bravery and strength, which were highly valued in these warrior cultures.
As the name spread across Europe, it underwent various phonetic and orthographic changes, resulting in different spellings such as Nelda, Nelida, and Nellida. These variations were prevalent in regions like Germany, where the name was occasionally recorded in historical documents and religious texts from the Middle Ages.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nellda can be found in a 12th-century German chronicle, where it was used to refer to a noblewoman from the region of Saxony. Another notable bearer of the name was Nellda von Rüdesheim, a 14th-century German abbess who played a significant role in the religious and cultural life of her community.
Throughout the centuries, the name Nellda has been borne by a handful of notable individuals, many of whom left their mark in various fields. One such figure was Nellda Martínez (1901-1982), a Cuban writer and journalist known for her contributions to the feminist movement in her country. Another prominent bearer of the name was Nellda Girón (1910-1994), a Nicaraguan politician and diplomat who served as her country's ambassador to several nations.
In the realm of arts and culture, Nellda Spiess (1892-1967) was a German-American painter and illustrator renowned for her vibrant depictions of landscapes and still lifes. Nellda Ingram (1920-2005), on the other hand, was an American actress and dancer who graced the stages of Broadway and Hollywood during the mid-20th century.
While the name Nellda may be relatively uncommon in modern times, its rich history and multicultural roots serve as a testament to the enduring legacy of this unique and captivating moniker.
People
Nellda + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Nellda as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with N
Other first names starting with N with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Nellda: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Nellda?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Nellda 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 - US residents.
Is Nellda a common name?
We classify Nellda as "Very Rare". It ranks above 2.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 6 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Nellda most popular?
The single biggest year for Nellda was 1906, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Nellda is about 0 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Nellda in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Nellda a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Nellda 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.
Is Nellda still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Nellda in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Nellda can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Nellda?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.