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How Many People Are Named Thelma?
Estimated people named Thelma living in the U.S. today
36,826
Gender distribution
0% male · 100% female in SSA records.
Name scorecard
- Total U.S. births recorded (1880–2024): 226,571
- Peak year: 1921 (7,871 births)
- Estimated living today: 36,826
Thelma by age group — who carries the name today?
Thelma popularity over time (1880–2024)
Estimated living bearers by birth decade
About the name Thelma
Thelma has been recorded by the Social Security Administration since the 19th century dataset began. In total, 226,571 babies were given the name in the United States between 1880 and 2024. After adjusting each birth cohort for survival to today, an estimated 36,826 bearers are still living — roughly 1 in 9,281 Americans. The name's strongest decade shapes how old most Thelmas you meet will be, which the age-group breakdown above shows directly. All figures are statistical estimates from public records; see our methodology for sources, the survival model, and the limits of the data (names given to fewer than five babies in a year are not published by the SSA).
Frequently asked questions
How many people are named Thelma in the US?
An estimated 36,826 people named Thelma are living in the United States today, based on SSA birth records from 1880 to 2024 adjusted for survival. That makes Thelma rare — about 1 in 9,281 Americans.
Is Thelma a boy or girl name?
In SSA records, Thelma is 0% male and 100% female, so it is predominantly a female name.
When was Thelma most popular?
Thelma peaked in 1921, when 7,871 babies were given the name. Its current trend is steady compared with the previous decade.
How rare is the name Thelma?
Thelma ranks #1,103 of 104,819 first names recorded by the SSA, with a rarity score of 46 out of 100 (higher means rarer).