Given name
Anselma
“having divine protection”
In German use, Anselma carries the interpretation “having divine protection.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In German use, Anselma carries the interpretation “having divine protection.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is German.
How it developed
Anselma is used as a feminine counterpart of Anselm.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1916. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Anselma through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 189
- 0 boys · 189 girls
- Most popular year
- 1924
- 14 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 5 in 1999. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for girls was 14 in 1924. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 871 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Anselma’s family of names
In English usage, Anselma is a feminine form of Anselm. Anselma has a related form in Anselmah. Anselma has a related form in Anzelma.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 4
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 2
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
Similar names
If you love Anselma, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Erma
“one who is complete; universal”
>99% girls
Elma
“having God's protection”
>99% girls
Irma
“a universal woman”
>99% girls
Velma
“determined protector”
>99% girls
Zelma
“having divine protection”
>99% girls
Wilma
“determined protector”
>99% girls
Tilda
“one who is mighty in battle”
>99% girls
Elvira
“a-truthful woman; one who can be trusted”
>99% girls