Thelma is an attractive female given name of Greek origin that means "will" or "desire." It was coined by American author Frank L. Baum for the heroine of his 1900 novel, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." In the story, Thelma is a young woman who is transformed into a beautiful girl after her wish to be beautiful comes true. Although not widely used today, Thelma remains a timeless and elegant name with a fascinating literary history behind it.
The name Thelma has a fascinating history of popularity and decline over the years in the United States. In the late 19th century, it was relatively uncommon, with only a handful of births each year between 1880 and 1889. However, it began to gain traction in the early 1890s, with a significant increase in births from 42 in 1893 to 70 in 1894.
This upward trend continued throughout the late 1890s and early 1900s, peaking at an impressive 4595 births in 1913. The name maintained a high level of popularity until the mid-1920s, with over 7000 births each year between 1912 and 1926.
However, after reaching its zenith, Thelma's popularity began to decline steadily. By the late 1930s, the number of annual births had fallen below 3000, and it continued to decrease throughout the mid-20th century. Between 1950 and 1975, there were fewer than 500 births each year on average.
The latter half of the 20th century saw a further decline in Thelma's popularity, with fewer than 100 births per year from the late 1970s onwards. This trend has continued into the 21st century, with an average of just over 20 births per year between 2000 and 2023.
Despite its decline in recent decades, Thelma remains a name with historical significance and a rich heritage in the United States. Its peak popularity during the early to mid-20th century has left a lasting impact on American demographics, and it continues to be used occasionally today, albeit at a significantly lower rate than in previous generations.