Total births
521
Girls' name · since 1902
Thelda
Since 1902, U.S. Social Security records show 521 babies named Thelda, peaking in 1926. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 521
- total births
- 1902–1955
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 38%
- born in that decade
Thelda sits outside today's top ranks for girls, with 521 recorded since 1902.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Thelda has been recorded 521 times among girls since 1902, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 1920s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1902 to 1955.
- 521 total births
- 1902–1955 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 38% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
521 girls have been named Thelda since 1902, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 1955.
- 521
- total births
- 1902–1955
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 38%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
38% of everyone ever named Thelda was born in this single decade.
1926
Single peak year
32 babies were named Thelda in 1926 - its busiest year on record.
Thelda's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Thelda's full recorded timeline at 1932, 38% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 62% in the earlier half -- the name was more prevalent in its earlier era than it is today. Its quietest year on record was 1902, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1926 peak of 32 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Thelda at a glance
Last recorded 1955Peak year
1926
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1902
Thelda popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1902–1955
- Peak year (1926)
- 32
- Annual births at peak, across 54 years of records
Thelda by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Thelda's strongest decade.
196 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 38% of all-time use.
Thelda births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1900s 5
1900s
5 births
- 1910s
1910s
94 births
- 1920s
1920s
196 births
- 1930s
1930s
119 births
- 1940s
1940s
85 births
- 1950s 22
1950s
22 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 196 births (38% of all-time use).
How Thelda 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 Thelda's total volume
Thelda vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Thelda by state
Where Thelda concentrates geographically, total births since 1902
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Illinois | | 5 | 1.0% |
Illinois share of Thelda's total US births 1.0%
5 of 521 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Thelda? ▼
Since 1902, Social Security records show 521 babies named Thelda. The most recent recorded year was 1955. Its busiest year on record was 1926, with 32 births.
When was Thelda most popular? ▼
Thelda was most popular in the 1920s decade with 196 total births. The single peak year was 1926.
Where is Thelda most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Thelda are Illinois (5 births).
How long has the name Thelda been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Thelda since 1902 -- 54 years through the most recent 1955 data.
What names are similar to Thelda? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Theresa, Thelma, Therese, Thea, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Thelda's data
- Thelda's decade-level peak was the 1920s (196 total births); usage has since declined to 22 in the 1950s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Illinois records the most Theldas (5 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Illinois 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 Thelda
Nearby Names Like Thelda
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Thelda
Theresa Girl
#1492 404,613 births
Thelma Girl
#4299 225,460 births
Therese Girl
#2180 35,590 births
Thea Girl
#349 20,113 births
Theodora Girl
#811 12,654 births
Compare Thelda side by side: Thelda vs Theresa Thelda vs Thelma Thelda vs Therese
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 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, 1902–1955 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Thelda: Baby Name Since 1902 - 521 Births, Peak 1926." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/thelda. 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 Thelda 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 July 2026.