Nelda
Nelda is a girl's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Elder tree, or short form of Eleanor meaning light.
Origin and history
Nelda is a feminine name of Germanic origin, traditionally considered a shortened variant of Eleanor or derived from Old English roots meaning 'at the elder tree'. It gained steady popularity in the early to mid-20th century in the United States but has become rare in recent decades. Today, it carries a vintage, classic charm.
Popularity in the United States
20,139 babies in the United States have been named Nelda since 1880. It ranks #1057 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #2073.
States where it is most popular
- TX (38.4 %)
- LA (5.7 %)
- AL (5.4 %)
- OK (5.3 %)
- MS (4.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 28 |
| 1890-1900 | 74 |
| 1900-1910 | 235 |
| 1910-1920 | 1,130 |
| 1920-1930 | 3,170 |
| 1930-1940 | 4,931 |
| 1940-1950 | 4,870 |
| 1950-1960 | 3,211 |
| 1960-1970 | 1,488 |
| 1970-1980 | 536 |
| 1980-1990 | 254 |
| 1990-2000 | 99 |
| 2000-2010 | 57 |
| 2010-2019 | 28 |
| 2020-2029 | 28 |
Famous people named Nelda
- Nelda Linsk: Model, Philanthropist
Fun facts
- Nelda reached its highest popularity in the United States during the 1930s and 1940s.
- One of its roots comes from the Middle English phrase 'atten elde', meaning 'at the elder tree'.