Nelda

Nelda: name meaning, origin & popularity

Meaning: “uncertain; possibly from Nell”
Origin: English
Say it: NEL-duh · 2 syllables
Used for: Girls

Probably an elaborated form of Nell or Nella, themselves linked to names such as Eleanor, Helen, or Petronella. Its exact origin is uncertain and usage is chiefly modern English-speaking. The origin of this name is not settled among etymologists.

English names American names Vintage names

How popular is Nelda?

20243.3 per million US babies

Drag the line or the slider to read any year. Values are per million US births recorded by Social Security. Records before about 1937 undercount births, so early peaks can look taller than they were.

Compare with another name

Babies named Nelda in 202411

Peak year1938

Total US babies since 188020,134

Nelda is rising: use over the last five years is 2.8× what it was a decade earlier.

Names like Nelda

Variants, related forms and names with the same roots.

Nelliebright one · English
Nellyfrom Eleanor or Helen · English
Nellbright, shining one · English
Oliviaolive tree · English
Evelyndesired; little bird · English
Harperharp player · English
Violetviolet flower · English
Hazelhazel tree · English

Nelda questions

What does the name Nelda mean?

Nelda means "uncertain; possibly from Nell". It comes from English. Probably an elaborated form of Nell or Nella, themselves linked to names such as Eleanor, Helen, or Petronella. Its exact origin is uncertain and usage is chiefly modern English-speaking.

Is Nelda a boy or girl name?

Nelda is mainly a girl's name in US records (100% of uses since 1880).

How popular is Nelda?

11 US babies were named Nelda in 2024. Its peak year was 1938.

How do you pronounce Nelda?

Nelda is usually pronounced NEL-duh.

Birth counts: US Social Security Administration national data, 1880–2024 (names given to 5+ babies of a sex in a year). How we write meanings.