Velma

Velma: name meaning, origin & popularity

Meaning: “will helmet”
Origin: Germanic
Say it: VEL-muh · 2 syllables
Used for: Girls

Probably an English short form of names like Wilhelmina, from Germanic elements meaning 'will, desire' and 'helmet, protection.' It was also used independently in modern times.

English names Names meaning protector Names meaning strength Vintage names Short names

How popular is Velma?

20243.9 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 Velma in 202413

Peak year1907

Total US babies since 188087,181

Velma is rising: use over the last five years is 1.9× what it was a decade earlier.

Names like Velma

Variants, related forms and names with the same roots.

Emmawhole, universal · Germanic
Ameliawork · Germanic
Ellaall, completely · Germanic
Alicenoble type · Germanic
Adelinenoble · Germanic
Emeryindustrious ruler · Germanic
Milliegentle strength · Germanic
Aubreyelf ruler · Germanic

Velma questions

What does the name Velma mean?

Velma means "will helmet". It comes from Germanic. Probably an English short form of names like Wilhelmina, from Germanic elements meaning 'will, desire' and 'helmet, protection.' It was also used independently in modern times.

Is Velma a boy or girl name?

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

How popular is Velma?

13 US babies were named Velma in 2024. Its peak year was 1907.

How do you pronounce Velma?

Velma is usually pronounced VEL-muh.

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.