Given name
Nelma
“the shining light”
Nelma is a variant of Nelly. In English use, Nelly carries the interpretation “the shining light.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Nelma 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 1907. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Nelma through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,229
- 0 boys · 1,229 girls
- Most popular year
- 1926
- 50 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 7 in 1960. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for girls was 50 in 1926. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 534 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.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Nelma
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Nelma, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Nella
“the shining light”
>99% girls
Erma
“one who is complete; universal”
>99% girls
Neva
“from the place covered with snow”
>99% girls
Norma
“a man from the north”
>99% girls
Elma
“having God's protection”
>99% girls
Velma
“determined protector”
>99% girls
Wilma
“determined protector”
>99% girls
Zelma
“having divine protection”
>99% girls