Total births
835
Boys' name · since 1884
Helmer
835 babies named Helmer in U.S. Social Security records since 1884, with the highest year being 1917. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- 835
- total births
- 1884–2017
- years on record
- 1910s
- peak decade
- 30%
- born in that decade
835 boys have been named Helmer since 1884, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Social Security Administration records show Helmer recorded 835 times among boys since 1884, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used boys names, peaking in the 1910s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1884 to 2017.
- 835 total births
- 1884–2017 years on record
- 1910s peak decade
- 30% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
835 boys have been named Helmer since 1884, peaking in the 1910s, last recorded in 2017.
- 835
- total births
- 1884–2017
- years on record
- 1910s
- peak decade
- 30%
- born in that decade
1910s
Peak decade
30% of everyone ever named Helmer was born in this single decade.
1917
Single peak year
37 babies were named Helmer in 1917 - its busiest year on record.
Helmer's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Helmer's full recorded timeline at 1921, 42% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 58% in the earlier half -- a fairly even split across the full record. Its quietest year on record was 1891, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1917 peak of 37 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Helmer at a glance
Last recorded 2017Peak year
1917
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1884
Helmer popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1884–2017
- Peak year (1917)
- 37
- Annual births at peak, across 134 years of records
Helmer by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1910s was Helmer's strongest decade.
250 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 30% of all-time use.
Helmer births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 51
1880s
51 births
- 1890s 89
1890s
89 births
- 1900s 63
1900s
63 births
- 1910s
1910s
250 births
- 1920s
1920s
182 births
- 1930s 78
1930s
78 births
- 1940s 22
1940s
22 births
- 1950s 10
1950s
10 births
- 1990s 18
1990s
18 births
- 2000s 48
2000s
48 births
- 2010s 24
2010s
24 births
What this shows Peak: 1910s at 250 births (30% of all-time use).
How Helmer compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Helmer's total volume
Helmer vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Helmer by state
Where Helmer concentrates geographically, total births since 1884
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Minnesota | | 113 | 13.5% |
| #2 | North Dakota | | 27 | 3.2% |
| #3 | Wisconsin | | 17 | 2.0% |
Minnesota share of Helmer's total US births 13.5%
Even split
113 of 835 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 3 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Helmer? ▼
835 babies have been named Helmer since 1884. It was last recorded in 2017. The peak year was 1917 with 37 births.
When was Helmer most popular? ▼
Helmer was most popular in the 1910s decade with 250 total births. The single peak year was 1917.
Where is Helmer most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Helmer are Minnesota (113 births), North Dakota (27 births), Wisconsin (17 births).
How long has the name Helmer been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Helmer since 1884 -- 134 years through the most recent 2017 data.
What names are similar to Helmer? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Helen, Helmuth, Helios, Helmut, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Helmer's data
- Helmer's decade-level peak was the 1910s (250 total births); usage has since declined to 24 in the 2010s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Minnesota records the most Helmers (113 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Minnesota 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 Helmer
Nearby Names Like Helmer
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Helmer
Helen Boy
3,105 births
Helmuth Boy
500 births
Helios Boy
#2906 466 births
Helmut Boy
450 births
Helio Boy
#7366 343 births
Compare Helmer side by side: Helmer vs Helen Helmer vs Helmuth Helmer vs Helios
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, 1884–2017 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Helmer: Baby Name Since 1884 - 835 Births, Peak 1917." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/helmer. 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 Helmer 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.