Imelda
About Imelda
Derived from the German Irmhild, Imelda is a warm and pretty name with a battle-worthy feel and meaning. A saintly choice, borne by Imelda Lambertini, a 14th-century Italian Catholic said to have died of joy following her First Communion, the name may have caught on as an alternative to Matilda, Imogen, Isabella, and Esmeralda, if not for its infamous association with Imelda Marcos, the wife of Philippine dictator, Ferdinand Marcos.
Out of style in the US since the 70s, is it time to reconsider this name? A way to nicknames Immy, Mel, Idgie, Ella, and Mela, more positive associations include actress Imelda Staunton and singer Imelda May.
Pronounced ih-MEL-duh.
As of October 2026, Imelda ranked #4295 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #770 in 1911.
Editor: Sophie Kihm
Sources: US popularity data is from the Social Security Administration. Meanings and origins are from Nameberry's name references.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank | Births | Per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | #4,192 | 35 | 19.8 |
| 2017 | #4,430 | 32 | 18.5 |
| 2018 | #3,878 | 38 | 22.3 |
| 2019 | #4,585 | 30 | 17.9 |
| 2020 | #3,644 | 41 | 25.4 |
| 2021 | #3,900 | 38 | 23.2 |
| 2022 | #4,315 | 33 | 20.1 |
| 2023 | #4,398 | 32 | 19.9 |
| 2024 | #3,658 | 42 | 25.9 |
| 2025 | #4,295 | 33 | 20.5 |
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Imelda.
- Odilia
- Delphia
- Rafaela
- Helah
- Tirzah
- Viveca
- Ludovica
- Elisheva
- Brighid
- Constantina
- Melisende
- Lucida
- Honoria
- Talitha
- Sanne
- Annunziata
- Anoushka
- Ophélie
- Hannelore
- Filomena
Imelda on lists
Famous Imeldas
- Imelda Mary Philomena Bernadette Staunton
English actress
- Alexandra Imelda Cecelia Ewen Burke
English singer,songwriter
- Imelda May (born Imelda Mary Clabby)
Irish singer,songwriter
- Maria Imelda of Jesus Host (born Jadwiga Karolina Żak)
blessed Polish nun and martyr
- Imelda Therinne
Indonesian actress
- Imelda "Anne" Crawford
English actress
- Imelda Lambertini
blessed Italian patron of First Holy Communicants
- Imelda Martínez
Mexican swimmer
- Imelda Papin
Filipina singer and politician
- Imelda Henry
Irish Senator
- Imelda Fransisca
Miss Indonesia 2005
Imelda in pop culture
- Imelda Rivera
character in Pixar's "Coco"