Thelma

Though modern parents seeking to honor an ancestor named Thelma might opt for the airier Thea instead, Thelma is starting to make its way back onto adventurous vintage name lovers' radars. It is currently experiencing a revival in France, where ranked at the #250 mark in a recent year.

The meaning of Thelma is unknown, although it is sometimes claimed to be derived from the Greek thelema "will". Alternative possibilities are that it's spin on Velma or Wilhelmina, meaning "resolute protection", a feminization of the saintly, Germanic Anthelm, meaning "zealous protection", or perhaps a spin on Ethelmary, meaning "noble and beloved" or "noble drop of the sea">.

It was extremely rare as a given name until British writer Marie Corelli used it for the Norwegian heroine of her eponymous novel in 1893. It went on to become a popular choice in the early 19th-century before falling out of style in the 80s.

In the English-speaking world, Thelma is associated with Geena Davis' character in the iconic female-centred crime movie Thelma and Louise (1991). It was also the birth name of first lady Pat Nixon.

Thelma is also given to boys.

Pronounced THEL-muh.

As of October 2026, Thelma ranked #4964 in US births in 1969 SSA, peaked at #750 in 1906.