Girls' name · since 1954
Nelsa
Nelsa has 39 recorded births since 1954 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1954 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #37,955 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 39
- born since 1954
- 1950s
- peak decade
Nelsa is not among the current top-ranked girls names; 39 have been recorded since 1954.
Social Security Administration records show Nelsa recorded 39 times among girls since 1954, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1950s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1954 to 1999.
- #37,955 of 72,339 all-time among girls
- 39 born since 1954
- 1950s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Nelsa ranks #37,955 of 72,339 girls' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 39 born since 1954, peaking in the 1950s.
- #37,955 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 39
- born since 1954
- 1950s
- peak decade
Nelsa's 39 recorded births place it above 47.4% of the 72,339 girls names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 1 jurisdictions, led by New York.
Nelsa's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Nelsa's SSA record in two at 1968 and the more recent half accounts for 44% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 56%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1964, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1954 peak of 9, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Nelsa popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1954–1999
- Peak year (1954)
- 9
- Annual births at peak, across 46 years of records
Nelsa by decade
1950s is the heaviest window (17 births, 44% of the file).
1950s was Nelsa's strongest decade.
17 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 44% of all-time use.
Nelsa births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1950s
1950s
17 births
- 1960s
1960s
10 births
- 1970s
1970s
7 births
- 1990s 5
1990s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 1950s at 17 births (44% of all-time use).
Nelsa by state
Where Nelsa concentrates geographically, total births since 1954
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | New York | | 6 | 15.4% |
6 of 39 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Where does Nelsa sit in the SSA name archive? ▼
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What to do with Nelsa's data
- Nelsa's decade-level peak was the 1950s (17 total births); usage has since declined to 5 in the 1990s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- New York records the most Nelsas (6 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. New York names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Nelsa
Nearby Names Like Nelsa
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Nelsa
Compare Nelsa side by side: Nelsa vs Nellie Nelsa vs Nell Nelsa vs Nelda
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Nelsa: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1954)
Similar record span (~45 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 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, 1954–1999 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
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 Nelsa 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 August 2026.