Girls' name · since 1888

Velva

Velva has 4,274 recorded births since 1888 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1916 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.

4,274
total births
1888–1983
years on record
1910s
peak decade
23%
born in that decade

Velva sits outside today's top ranks for girls, with 4,274 recorded since 1888.

According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Velva has been recorded 4,274 times among girls since 1888, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 1910s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1888 to 1983.

  • 4,274 total births
  • 1888–1983 years on record
  • 1910s peak decade
  • 23% born in that decade

Data updated Jun 2026

The verdict

4,274 girls have been named Velva since 1888, peaking in the 1910s, last recorded in 1983.

4,274
total births
1888–1983
years on record
1910s
peak decade
23%
born in that decade
1910s
Peak decade

23% of everyone ever named Velva was born in this single decade.

1916
Single peak year

139 babies were named Velva in 1916 - its busiest year on record.

Velva's usage pattern, beyond the headline number

Velva splits its recorded history at 1935: 36% of all births land in the more recent half, 64% in the earlier half, leaning more toward its earlier era than today's. The single quietest year was 1974 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1916 peak of 139 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.

Velva at a glance

Last recorded 1983

Total births

4,274

Since 1888

96 years of records

Peak year

1916

139 births that year

Strongest decade: 1910s

Current rank

Unranked

Outside the modern top-1,000

As of 1983

Active since

1888

Recorded for 96 years

Last year on file: 1983

Velva popularity over time

Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1888–1983

Last recorded 1983
Peak year (1916)
139
Annual births at peak, across 96 years of records
-50050100150 188819001912192419361948196019721983 7

Velva by decade

Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance

1910s was Velva's strongest decade.

997 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 23% of all-time use.

Velva births by decade

Total births in each ten-year window

births

What this shows Peak: 1910s at 997 births (23% of all-time use).

Source U.S. Social Security Administration · Baby Names As of June 2026

How Velva 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 Velva's total volume

Velva vs 15 similarly-sized girls names

Velva vs 15 similarly-sized girls names Scatter plot of 16 data points. 2%4%6%8%10% 050100150200 New & already peakedOld name, single-era peakNew & still diversifyingLong history, steady all along Years in SSA records % of total births in the single peak year Velva
Velva vs 15 similarly-sized girls names

Velva by state

Where Velva concentrates geographically, total births since 1888

Geographically diffuse
Top 8 states by recorded births for the name Velva
Rank State Visual share Births Share of total
#1 Kentucky
203 4.7%
#2 West Virginia
194 4.5%
#3 Missouri
155 3.6%
#4 Oklahoma
128 3.0%
#5 Texas
102 2.4%
#6 Iowa
90 2.1%
#7 Arkansas
77 1.8%
#8 Illinois
72 1.7%
Kentucky share of Velva's total US births 4.7%
Even split

203 of 4,274 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 22 reporting states.

Velva appears in 22 states. Explore state details →

Frequently Asked Questions

How popular is the name Velva? ▼
4,274 babies have been named Velva since 1888. It was last recorded in 1983. The peak year was 1916 with 139 births.
When was Velva most popular? ▼
Velva was most popular in the 1910s decade with 997 total births. The single peak year was 1916.
Where is Velva most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Velva are Kentucky (203 births), West Virginia (194 births), Missouri (155 births).
How long has the name Velva been used? ▼
Velva has been recorded in Social Security data since 1888, spanning 96 years of data through 1983.
What names are similar to Velva? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Velma, Velda, Velvet, Velia, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.

What to do with Velva's data

  • Velva's decade-level peak was the 1910s (997 total births); usage has since declined to 19 in the 1980s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
  • Kentucky records the most Velvas (203 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Kentucky 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 Velva

Nearby Names Like Velva

Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Velva

Velma Girl
#7969 86,752 births
Velda Girl
7,559 births
Velvet Girl
#9023 3,096 births
Velia Girl
#13542 2,831 births
Vella Girl
#5154 2,283 births

Compare Velva side by side: Velva vs Velma Velva vs Velda Velva vs Velvet

Or pick any two names to compare →

Related Names

Names with a similar number of total births

Suzy #7631
4,270 births · Peak 1962
Cristin
4,269 births · Peak 1981
Abrianna #6759
4,269 births · Peak 2006
Aila #793
4,268 births · Peak 2021
Viridiana #5862
4,268 births · Peak 1995
Aubriella #1021
4,266 births · Peak 2018
Linette #10374
4,285 births · Peak 1970
Kalina #1603
4,288 births · Peak 2019

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, 1888–1983 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).

State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).

Cite this page

NameAlmanac Editorial. "Velva: Baby Name Since 1888 - 4,274 Births, Peak 1916." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/velva. 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 Velva 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.