Imelda
Girl name · #4273 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Imelda? In official American birth records, Imelda has been tracked continuously since 1891, giving it 134 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 33 baby girls were named Imelda, placing it at #4273 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #6452, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 54,545 girls born in 2025 was named Imelda.
The 134-year story
Imelda first appears in the Social Security records in 1891, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1978, when 149 girls were named Imelda — good for #947 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Imelda per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Imelda against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Imelda in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Imelda is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Imelda will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Imelda is most common
State-level data for Imelda is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Imelda
Statistically, parents drawn to Imelda tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Griselda, Keysha, Starla, Melisa, and Jacinta.
GriseldaKeyshaStarlaMelisaJacintaTrishaSalinaMirna
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Imelda | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 33 | #4265 |
| 2024 | 42 | #3639 |
| 2023 | 32 | #4363 |
| 2022 | 33 | #4295 |
| 2021 | 39 | #3801 |
| 2020 | 41 | #3607 |
| 2019 | 30 | #4546 |
| 2018 | 38 | #3853 |
| 2017 | 32 | #4384 |
| 2016 | 35 | #4157 |
| 2015 | 19 | #6452 |
| 2014 | 24 | #5456 |
| 2013 | 27 | #5013 |
| 2012 | 33 | #4387 |
| 2011 | 23 | #5728 |
| 2010 | 25 | #5414 |
| 2009 | 35 | #4269 |
| 2008 | 41 | #3859 |
| 2007 | 49 | #3376 |
| 2006 | 58 | #2940 |
| 2005 | 55 | #2935 |
| 2004 | 50 | #3071 |
| 2003 | 55 | #2800 |
| 2002 | 42 | #3283 |
| 2001 | 68 | #2331 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Imelda?
In official American birth records, the name Imelda first appeared in 1891 (over 134 years ago), when 5 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Imelda a popular girl name?
Imelda ranked #4273 among girls in 2025 with 33 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #6452.
When was the name Imelda most popular?
Imelda peaked in 1978, when 149 American girls received the name (ranked #947 that year). Since 1978 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Imelda?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 54,545 newborn American girls was named Imelda. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.