Erma
Below 5 births
2025 SSA
About Erma
A variation of the German Irma, Erma emerged in the 19th century in English-speaking countries where its similarity to timeless Emma might have helped it gain popularity. In fact, if you follow its Germanic roots, it relates back to irmin meaning "whole, great", the same as Emma does.
Another possibility is that it derives from Ermina, the Slovene variation of Hermina, the feminine form the Germanic Herman, meaning "army man".
Popular in the early 1900s, it hasn't appeared in the US charts since the late '60s. Is it ready for a comeback? Perhaps not quite yet, but then again, it's not too dissimilar to Alma, Emma, and Esther, and it might even appeal to those who like Emerson, but want something more old fashioned.
Very quietly used in the US, it was given to 14 girls in a recent year, while Irma was given to 67.
Erma is also given to boys.
Pronounced ER-muh.
As of October 2026, Erma ranked #3875 in US births in 1951 SSA, peaked at #1467 in 1910.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank · boys | Births · boys | US rank · girls | Births · girls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2015 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2016 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2017 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2018 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2019 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2020 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2021 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2022 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2023 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2024 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2025 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Erma.
Erma on lists
Famous Ermas
- Erma Louise BombeckGirl
American journalist and author
- Erma Vernice FranklinGirl
American R&B singer, sister of Aretha Franklin
- Erma M. BergmannGirl
All,American Girls Professional Baseball League pitcher
- Erma Perham ProetzGirl
American ad exec; first woman inducted into the Advertising Hall of Fame
Erma in pop culture
- Erma FelnaGirl
character in comic book series "Erma Felna: EDF" by Steve Gallacci