Elma
A girls’ name of Old English origin, meaning noble protector; a form of elmer or wilhelmina.
Elma by the numbers
In 2025, 31 babies in England and Wales were named Elma. In the US, 32 were, though that figure is from 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
For the size of the two countries, it is given several times more often in England and Wales than in the US.
Its American peak was 659 babies in 1918, so it is a 1910s name that has since fallen a long way.
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Elma. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
- Emmawhole, universal19,752 in the US (2017)
- Ellaall, completely; fairy maiden8,020 in the US (2017)
- Elsanoble; form of Elisabeth424 in the US (2017)
- Eliamy god is Yahweh; a form of Elijah255 in the US (2017)
- Emawhole; universal; short form of Emma37 in England and Wales (2025)
- Elyamy god is yahweh; modern form of Elijah6 in England and Wales (2025)
Other names that mean nobility
Like Elma, each of these has nobility in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Aubreyelf ruler; noble strength6,029 in the US (2017)
- Audreynoble strength4,820 in the US (2017)
- Aaliyahhigh, exalted, of high rank4,167 in the US (2017)
- Allisonnoble natured; a form of Alison4,017 in the US (2017)
- Adelinenoble, nobility3,902 in the US (2017)
- Alicenoble, of noble kind825 in England and Wales (2025)
Other names that mean a protector
Like Elma, each of these has a protector in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Parkerkeeper of the park; park ranger5,833 in the US (2017)
- Alexadefender of men; form of Alexandra3,888 in the US (2017)
- Alexisdefender, helper2,847 in the US (2017)
- Alexdefender, helper; short form of Alexander or Alexis2,766 in the US (2017)
- Alexandradefender of mankind2,592 in the US (2017)
- Alexandriadefender of mankind; a form of Alexander1,238 in the US (2017)
Names about as common as Elma
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