Norma
Girl name · #2002 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Norma? In official American birth records, Norma has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Norma is currently the #2002 girl name in the United States — 95 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #2382, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 18,947 girls born in 2025 was named Norma.
Babies named Norma per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Norma first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 32 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1931, when 8,759 girls were named Norma — good for #22 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Norma against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Norma in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Norma is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Norma will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Norma is most common
State-level data for Norma 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 Norma
Statistically, parents drawn to Norma tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Irma, Wilma, Dora, Thelma, and Rhoda.
IrmaWilmaDoraThelmaRhodaJuanitaEdnaHilda
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Norma | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 95 | #2002 |
| 2024 | 69 | #2559 |
| 2023 | 87 | #2176 |
| 2022 | 89 | #2142 |
| 2021 | 99 | #1971 |
| 2020 | 75 | #2341 |
| 2019 | 74 | #2400 |
| 2018 | 81 | #2254 |
| 2017 | 81 | #2283 |
| 2016 | 87 | #2206 |
| 2015 | 77 | #2382 |
| 2014 | 84 | #2236 |
| 2013 | 86 | #2173 |
| 2012 | 60 | #2866 |
| 2011 | 105 | #1898 |
| 2010 | 117 | #1762 |
| 2009 | 126 | #1733 |
| 2008 | 151 | #1531 |
| 2007 | 151 | #1526 |
| 2006 | 205 | #1184 |
| 2005 | 194 | #1185 |
| 2004 | 210 | #1091 |
| 2003 | 203 | #1084 |
| 2002 | 242 | #923 |
| 2001 | 266 | #855 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Norma?
In official American birth records, the name Norma first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 32 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Norma a popular girl name?
Norma ranked #2002 among girls in 2025 with 95 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2382.
When was the name Norma most popular?
Norma peaked in 1931, when 8,759 American girls received the name (ranked #22 that year). Since 1931 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Norma?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 18,947 newborn American girls was named Norma. 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.