Total births
1,396
Girls' name · since 1907
Emelda
Since 1907, U.S. Social Security records show 1,396 babies named Emelda, peaking in 1926. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 1,396
- total births
- 1907–2019
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 21%
- born in that decade
1,396 girls have been named Emelda since 1907, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Social Security Administration records show Emelda recorded 1,396 times among girls since 1907, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1920s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1907 to 2019.
- 1,396 total births
- 1907–2019 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 21% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
1,396 girls have been named Emelda since 1907, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 2019.
- 1,396
- total births
- 1907–2019
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 21%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
21% of everyone ever named Emelda was born in this single decade.
1926
Single peak year
34 babies were named Emelda in 1926 - its busiest year on record.
Emelda's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Emelda's full recorded timeline at 1951, 36% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 64% in the earlier half -- the name was more prevalent in its earlier era than it is today. Its quietest year on record was 1912, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1926 peak of 34 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Emelda at a glance
Last recorded 2019Peak year
1926
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1907
Emelda popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1907–2019
- Peak year (1926)
- 34
- Annual births at peak, across 113 years of records
Emelda by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Emelda's strongest decade.
288 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 21% of all-time use.
Emelda births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1900s 20
1900s
20 births
- 1910s
1910s
153 births
- 1920s
1920s
288 births
- 1930s
1930s
218 births
- 1940s
1940s
190 births
- 1950s
1950s
194 births
- 1960s
1960s
131 births
- 1970s 103
1970s
103 births
- 1980s 73
1980s
73 births
- 1990s 10
1990s
10 births
- 2000s 5
2000s
5 births
- 2010s 11
2010s
11 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 288 births (21% of all-time use).
How Emelda compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Emelda's total volume
Emelda vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Emelda by state
Where Emelda concentrates geographically, total births since 1907
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Louisiana | | 715 | 51.2% |
| #2 | Texas | | 27 | 1.9% |
| #3 | California | | 12 | 0.9% |
Louisiana share of Emelda's total US births 51.2%
Even split
715 of 1,396 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 3 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Emelda? ▼
Since 1907, Social Security records show 1,396 babies named Emelda. The most recent recorded year was 2019. Its busiest year on record was 1926, with 34 births.
When was Emelda most popular? ▼
Emelda was most popular in the 1920s decade with 288 total births. The single peak year was 1926.
Where is Emelda most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Emelda are Louisiana (715 births), Texas (27 births), California (12 births).
How long has the name Emelda been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Emelda since 1907 -- 113 years through the most recent 2019 data.
What names are similar to Emelda? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Emery, Emerson, Emely, Emersyn, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Emelda's data
- Emelda's decade-level peak was the 1920s (288 total births); usage has since declined to 11 in the 2010s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Louisiana records the most Emeldas (715 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Louisiana names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Emelda
Nearby Names Like Emelda
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Emelda
Emery Girl
#70 43,837 births
Emerson Girl
#151 34,050 births
Emely Girl
#427 23,864 births
Emersyn Girl
#154 22,246 births
Emelia Girl
#574 14,028 births
Compare Emelda side by side: Emelda vs Emery Emelda vs Emerson Emelda vs Emely
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1907–2019 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Emelda: Baby Name Since 1907 - 1,396 Births, Peak 1926." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/emelda. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Emelda draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.