Vernelda
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly derived from the Germanic words meaning "traveler" or "wanderer."
Name Census estimates that about 4 living Americans carry the first name Vernelda. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Vernelda today is around 67 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Vernelda births was 1927 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Vernelda. 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 Vernelda is about 67 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Verneldas were born before 1969.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Vernelda. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
4
~ 1 in 85,688,585 Americans
Peak year
1927
5 babies that year
Average age
67
years old
1960 SSA rank
#7,281
Tracked since 1927
Popularity
Vernelda: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Vernelda from the 1920s through to the 1960s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 5 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Vernelda 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 Vernelda 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 Vernelda
Vernelda is a feminine given name of Germanic origin, derived from the Old High German elements "warin" meaning "protector" and "hild" meaning "battle." It is believed to have emerged during the Middle Ages, primarily in regions where Germanic languages were spoken, such as parts of modern-day Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Vernelda can be traced back to the 9th century, where it appeared in historical records and chronicles of the Carolingian period. One notable bearer of the name was Vernelda von Franken, a noblewoman who lived in the late 9th century and was known for her involvement in religious affairs and charitable works.
During the High Middle Ages, the name Vernelda gained some popularity among the German nobility and was occasionally found in royal lineages. In the 12th century, a woman named Vernelda von Staufen, a member of the prestigious Staufen dynasty, was recorded as the abbess of a prominent convent in southern Germany.
As the name spread across Europe, variations in spelling and pronunciation emerged. In England, for instance, the name took on the form of Vernalda, and historical records from the 13th century mention a woman named Vernalda of Wessex, who was a prominent landowner and benefactor in the region.
In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the name Vernelda was Vernelda von Anhalt, a German noblewoman and patron of the arts. She was known for her support of Renaissance artists and her collection of valuable artworks and manuscripts.
Another historical figure with the name Vernelda was Vernelda von Braunschweig, a 17th-century German playwright and poet. She was celebrated for her contributions to the literary world and her advocacy for women's education during a time when such pursuits were often discouraged.
It is worth noting that while the name Vernelda has its roots in Germanic languages, it has been adopted and adapted in various cultures throughout history. However, its usage has generally remained relatively uncommon compared to other Germanic names.
People
Vernelda + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Vernelda as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with V
Other first names starting with V with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Vernelda: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Vernelda?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 4 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Vernelda 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 85,688,585 US residents.
Is Vernelda a common name?
We classify Vernelda as "Very Rare". It ranks above 6.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 10 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Vernelda most popular?
The single biggest year for Vernelda was 1927, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Vernelda is about 67 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 Vernelda in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Vernelda a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Vernelda 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 Vernelda still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Vernelda 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 Vernelda 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 share the name Vernelda?
You can see how many people share the name Vernelda on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.