Total births
2,099
Girls' name · since 1895
Theola
Since 1895, U.S. Social Security records show 2,099 babies named Theola, peaking in 1924. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 2,099
- total births
- 1895–1983
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 27%
- born in that decade
2,099 girls have been named Theola since 1895, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Social Security Administration records show Theola recorded 2,099 times among girls since 1895, 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 1895 to 1983.
- 2,099 total births
- 1895–1983 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 27% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
2,099 girls have been named Theola since 1895, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 1983.
- 2,099
- total births
- 1895–1983
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 27%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
27% of everyone ever named Theola was born in this single decade.
1924
Single peak year
82 babies were named Theola in 1924 - its busiest year on record.
Theola's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Theola's full recorded timeline at 1936, 33% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 67% in the earlier half -- the name was more prevalent in its earlier era than it is today. Its quietest year on record was 1901, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1924 peak of 82 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Theola at a glance
Last recorded 1983Peak year
1924
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1895
Theola popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1895–1983
- Peak year (1924)
- 82
- Annual births at peak, across 89 years of records
Theola by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Theola's strongest decade.
565 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 27% of all-time use.
Theola births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1890s 18
1890s
18 births
- 1900s 118
1900s
118 births
- 1910s
1910s
433 births
- 1920s
1920s
565 births
- 1930s
1930s
389 births
- 1940s
1940s
258 births
- 1950s 180
1950s
180 births
- 1960s 105
1960s
105 births
- 1970s 28
1970s
28 births
- 1980s 5
1980s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 565 births (27% of all-time use).
How Theola 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 Theola's total volume
Theola vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Theola by state
Where Theola concentrates geographically, total births since 1895
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | South Carolina | | 80 | 3.8% |
| #2 | Texas | | 69 | 3.3% |
| #3 | Arkansas | | 35 | 1.7% |
| #4 | Mississippi | | 32 | 1.5% |
| #5 | Florida | | 28 | 1.3% |
| #6 | Louisiana | | 19 | 0.9% |
| #7 | Iowa | | 17 | 0.8% |
| #8 | Alabama | | 16 | 0.8% |
South Carolina share of Theola's total US births 3.8%
Even split
80 of 2,099 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 15 reporting states.
Theola appears in 15 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Theola? ▼
Since 1895, Social Security records show 2,099 babies named Theola. The most recent recorded year was 1983. Its busiest year on record was 1924, with 82 births.
When was Theola most popular? ▼
Theola was most popular in the 1920s decade with 565 total births. The single peak year was 1924.
Where is Theola most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Theola are South Carolina (80 births), Texas (69 births), Arkansas (35 births).
How long has the name Theola been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Theola since 1895 -- 89 years through the most recent 1983 data.
What names are similar to Theola? ▼
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 Theola's data
- Theola's decade-level peak was the 1920s (565 total births); usage has since declined to 5 in the 1980s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- South Carolina records the most Theolas (80 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. South Carolina 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 Theola
Nearby Names Like Theola
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Theola
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 Theola side by side: Theola vs Theresa Theola vs Thelma Theola 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, 1895–1983 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Theola: Baby Name Since 1895 - 2,099 Births, Peak 1924." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/theola. 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 Theola 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.