Total births
52
Unisex name · since 1918
Zelmer
52 babies named Zelmer in U.S. Social Security records since 1918, with the highest year being 1920. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- 52
- total births
- 1918–1946
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 48%
- born in that decade
52 boys have been named Zelmer since 1918, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Social Security Administration records show Zelmer recorded 52 times among boys since 1918, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used boys 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 1918 to 1946.
- 52 total births
- 1918–1946 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 48% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
52 boys have been named Zelmer since 1918, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 1946.
- 52
- total births
- 1918–1946
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 48%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
48% of everyone ever named Zelmer was born in this single decade.
1920
Single peak year
9 babies were named Zelmer in 1920 - its busiest year on record.
Zelmer's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Zelmer's full recorded timeline at 1924, 52% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 48% in the earlier half -- a fairly even split across the full record. Its quietest year on record was 1918, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1920 peak of 9 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Zelmer at a glance
Last recorded 1946Peak year
1920
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1918
Zelmer popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1918–1946
- Peak year (1920)
- 9
- Annual births at peak, across 29 years of records
Zelmer popularity over time - girls
16 total births recorded since 1914 (Zelmer as girls' name)
Zelmer by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Zelmer's strongest decade.
25 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 48% of all-time use.
Zelmer births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s
1910s
10 births
- 1920s
1920s
25 births
- 1930s
1930s
11 births
- 1940s 6
1940s
6 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 25 births (48% of all-time use).
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Zelmer? ▼
Since 1918, Social Security records show 52 babies named Zelmer. The most recent recorded year was 1946. Its busiest year on record was 1920, with 9 births.
When was Zelmer most popular? ▼
Zelmer was most popular in the 1920s decade with 25 total births. The single peak year was 1920.
Is Zelmer a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Zelmer is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 52 births, and as a girl's name it has 16 births.
How long has the name Zelmer been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Zelmer since 1918 -- 29 years through the most recent 1946 data.
What names are similar to Zelmer? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Zell, Zelig, Zelma, Zeldris, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Zelmer's data
- Zelmer's decade-level peak was the 1920s (25 total births); usage has since declined to 6 in the 1940s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- 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 Zelmer
Nearby Names Like Zelmer
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Zelmer
Zell Boy
213 births
Zelig Boy
#7490 190 births
Zelma Boy
112 births
Zeldris Boy
#6816 35 births
Zeland Boy
#12128 23 births
Compare Zelmer side by side: Zelmer vs Zell Zelmer vs Zelig Zelmer vs Zelma
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, 1918–1946 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Zelmer: Baby Name Since 1918 - 52 Births, Peak 1920." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/zelmer. 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 Zelmer 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.