Total births
1,139
Girls' name · since 1889
Nelva
Nelva has 1,139 recorded births since 1889 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1935 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- 1,139
- total births
- 1889–1976
- years on record
- 1930s
- peak decade
- 29%
- born in that decade
Nelva is not among the current top-ranked girls names; 1,139 have been recorded since 1889.
Social Security Administration records show Nelva recorded 1,139 times among girls since 1889, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1930s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1889 to 1976.
- 1,139 total births
- 1889–1976 years on record
- 1930s peak decade
- 29% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
1,139 girls have been named Nelva since 1889, peaking in the 1930s, last recorded in 1976.
- 1,139
- total births
- 1889–1976
- years on record
- 1930s
- peak decade
- 29%
- born in that decade
1930s
Peak decade
29% of everyone ever named Nelva was born in this single decade.
1935
Single peak year
44 babies were named Nelva in 1935 - its busiest year on record.
Nelva's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Nelva splits its recorded history at 1939: 40% of all births land in the more recent half, 60% in the earlier half, leaning more toward its earlier era than today's. The single quietest year was 1889 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1935 peak of 44 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Nelva at a glance
Last recorded 1976Peak year
1935
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1889
Nelva popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1889–1976
- Peak year (1935)
- 44
- Annual births at peak, across 88 years of records
Nelva by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1930s was Nelva's strongest decade.
328 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 29% of all-time use.
Nelva births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 5
1880s
5 births
- 1900s 16
1900s
16 births
- 1910s
1910s
133 births
- 1920s
1920s
234 births
- 1930s
1930s
328 births
- 1940s
1940s
217 births
- 1950s
1950s
132 births
- 1960s 61
1960s
61 births
- 1970s 13
1970s
13 births
What this shows Peak: 1930s at 328 births (29% of all-time use).
How Nelva 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 Nelva's total volume
Nelva vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Nelva by state
Where Nelva concentrates geographically, total births since 1889
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Texas | | 152 | 13.3% |
| #2 | Kentucky | | 11 | 1.0% |
| #3 | Louisiana | | 10 | 0.9% |
| #4 | Oklahoma | | 5 | 0.4% |
Texas share of Nelva's total US births 13.3%
Even split
152 of 1,139 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 4 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Nelva? ▼
Nelva has been given to 1,139 babies in the U.S. since 1889, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 1976. 44 babies were born in 1935, its single highest year.
When was Nelva most popular? ▼
Nelva was most popular in the 1930s decade with 328 total births. The single peak year was 1935.
Where is Nelva most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Nelva are Texas (152 births), Kentucky (11 births), Louisiana (10 births).
How long has the name Nelva been used? ▼
Records for Nelva go back to 1889, giving 88 years of history through 1976.
What names are similar to Nelva? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Nellie, Nell, Nelda, Nelly, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Nelva's data
- Nelva's decade-level peak was the 1930s (328 total births); usage has since declined to 13 in the 1970s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Texas records the most Nelvas (152 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Texas 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 Nelva
Nearby Names Like Nelva
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Nelva
Nellie Girl
#521 152,691 births
Nell Girl
#1457 27,612 births
Nelda Girl
#8966 20,139 births
Nelly Girl
#1360 7,792 births
Nelle Girl
#5022 5,794 births
Compare Nelva side by side: Nelva vs Nellie Nelva vs Nell Nelva vs Nelda
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, 1889–1976 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Nelva: Baby Name Since 1889 - 1,139 Births, Peak 1935." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/nelva. 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 Nelva 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.