Girls' name · since 1886
Zelpha
Since 1886, U.S. Social Security records show 956 babies named Zelpha, peaking in 1916. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #7,760 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 956
- born since 1886
- 1910s
- peak decade
Zelpha sits outside today's top ranks for girls, with 956 recorded since 1886.
Social Security Administration records show Zelpha recorded 956 times among girls since 1886, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1910s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1886 to 1957.
- #7,760 of 72,339 all-time among girls
- 956 born since 1886
- 1910s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Zelpha ranks #7,760 of 72,339 girls' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 956 born since 1886, peaking in the 1910s.
- #7,760 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 956
- born since 1886
- 1910s
- peak decade
Zelpha's 956 recorded births place it above 89.27% of the 72,339 girls names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 3 jurisdictions, led by Arkansas.
Zelpha's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Zelpha splits its recorded history at 1918: 55% of all births land in the more recent half, 45% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1888 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1916 peak of 39 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Zelpha popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1886–1957
- Peak year (1916)
- 39
- Annual births at peak, across 72 years of records
Zelpha by decade
1910s is the heaviest window (256 births, 27% of the file).
1910s was Zelpha's strongest decade.
256 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 27% of all-time use.
Zelpha births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 26
1880s
26 births
- 1890s 89
1890s
89 births
- 1900s
1900s
120 births
- 1910s
1910s
256 births
- 1920s
1920s
256 births
- 1930s
1930s
119 births
- 1940s 51
1940s
51 births
- 1950s 39
1950s
39 births
What this shows Peak: 1910s at 256 births (27% of all-time use).
How Zelpha 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 Zelpha's total volume
Zelpha by state
Where Zelpha concentrates geographically, total births since 1886
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Arkansas | | 12 | 1.3% |
| #2 | Missouri | | 11 | 1.2% |
| #3 | Oklahoma | | 10 | 1.0% |
12 of 956 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 3 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Zelpha? ▼
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When was Zelpha most popular? ▼
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What to do with Zelpha's data
- Zelpha's decade-level peak was the 1910s (256 total births); usage has since declined to 39 in the 1950s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Arkansas records the most Zelphas (12 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Arkansas names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Zelpha
Nearby Names Like Zelpha
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Zelpha
Compare Zelpha side by side: Zelpha vs Zelma Zelpha vs Zelda Zelpha vs Zella
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Zelpha: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1916)
Similar record span (~71 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 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, 1886–1957 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
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 Zelpha 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 August 2026.