Roselma
A feminine name derived from the Spanish Rosa, meaning "rose".
Name Census estimates that about 1 living Americans carry the first name Roselma. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Roselma today is around 102 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Roselma births was 1918 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Roselma. 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
- • The typical person named Roselma is about 102 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Roselmas were born before 1934.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Roselma. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
1
~ 1 in 342,754,338 Americans
Peak year
1918
7 babies that year
Average age
102
years old
1935 SSA rank
#4,791
Tracked since 1913
Popularity
Roselma: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Roselma from the 1910s through to the 1930s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 12 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1910s peak, Roselma remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Roselma 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 Roselma during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Roselma
The name Roselma is a feminine given name with a rich history and origins that can be traced back to various cultures and languages. It is believed to be a combination of the name Rose, a name derived from the Latin word "rosa" meaning the flower rose, and the Germanic element "lma" or "lma," which means "protector" or "guardian."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Roselma can be found in the 12th century, where it was used in parts of Italy and France. During this time, the name was likely influenced by the widespread popularity of the rose flower, which held significant symbolism and cultural significance in both regions.
In the 13th century, the name Roselma appeared in several historical records in Spain, particularly in the regions of Catalonia and Valencia. This suggests that the name may have been introduced to the Iberian Peninsula through cultural exchanges or migrations during the Middle Ages.
One notable historical figure bearing the name Roselma was Roselma de Villanova, a 14th-century Catalan writer and poet known for her contributions to the literature of the Valencian Golden Age. Her works, primarily written in the Valencian language, explored themes of love, spirituality, and the natural world.
In the 16th century, the name Roselma gained popularity in parts of Italy, particularly in the region of Tuscany. During this period, several notable Italian women bore the name, including Roselma Capponi, a Florentine noblewoman and patron of the arts who lived from 1535 to 1607.
Moving into the 17th century, the name Roselma appeared in various historical records in parts of Germany and Austria. One notable figure was Roselma von Löwenstein, a German countess and landowner who lived from 1623 to 1691 and played a significant role in the cultural and political affairs of her time.
In the 19th century, the name Roselma was documented in parts of South America, particularly in Brazil and Argentina. One notable individual was Roselma Gomes da Silva, a Brazilian writer and educator who lived from 1834 to 1901 and contributed to the development of educational programs for women in her country.
While the name Roselma has been used throughout history in various regions and cultures, it has remained a relatively uncommon name, particularly in more recent times. However, its rich historical roots and beautiful blend of elements from different linguistic traditions make it a unique and intriguing name with a fascinating backstory.
People
Roselma + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Roselma as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with R
Other first names starting with R with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Roselma: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Roselma?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Roselma 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 342,754,338 US residents.
Is Roselma a common name?
We classify Roselma as "Very Rare". It ranks above 3.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 28 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Roselma most popular?
The single biggest year for Roselma was 1918, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Roselma is about 102 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 Roselma in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Roselma a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Roselma 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 Roselma still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Roselma 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 Roselma 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 people have Roselma as a first name?
If you just want to know how many people have the name Roselma, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.