Given name & surname
Nelda
“the shining light”
Nelda is a variant of Nelly. In English use, Nelly carries the interpretation “the shining light.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Nelda is a variant of Nelly. In English use, Nelly carries the interpretation “the shining light.”
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1884. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Nelda through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 20,144
- 5 boys · 20,139 girls
- Most popular year
- 1938
- 567 babies
- 2025
- 10
- #9,906 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +100%
- Rising fast
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 10 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 9,906 among girls’ names. The recent annual counts are too incomplete to establish a ten-year comparison. Its largest published annual count for girls was 567 in 1938. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 10,907 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.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Nelda, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Naida
“a water nymph”
>99% girls
Edda
“suffering strife during war”
>99% girls
Nira
“of the plowed field”
>99% girls
Nella
“the shining light”
>99% girls
Elida
“resembling a winged creature”
>99% girls
Ninfa
>99% girls
Freida
“a peaceful ruler”
>99% girls
Elidia
>99% girls