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Erma

♀ Girl

Pronounced ER-mah /ˈɜr.mə/Medium

Meaning: A short form of Ermengard/Irma — from the Germanic ermen/irmin, 'whole; universal; great'Low

In 30 seconds: Whole; universal; great: Erma is a form of Irma. Crisp, classic, and warm (said 'ER-mah').

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Origin LowGermanic

MeaningA short form of Ermengard/Irma — from the Germanic ermen/irmin, 'whole; universal; great'

U.S. rank (2025)#5292 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births24 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1920

Total births (all-time)≈ 54,947

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Erma is a short form of Ermengard/Irma — from the Germanic ermen/irmin, 'whole; universal; great'. A crisp, classic name (made known by humorist Erma Bombeck; said 'ER-mah').

In the U.S. it appears as a vintage name. Rare today, whole-and-universal at the root, and classic.

Did you know? Irma/Ermengard comes from the Germanic ermen, 'whole; universal; great' — Erma is a short form, crisp and classic (said 'ER-mah').

Overall data confidence 46%

References — Irma — Germanic etymology

Variations

IrmaErminiaErmina

Nicknames

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If you like Erma…

Irma— a kin Ermen- girls' name

Alma— a sound-neighbor -ma girls' name

Zelma— a similarly popular pick

Emma— another Germanic name

Elsa— lands in the same popularity range

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Erma mean?

Erma is a short form of Ermengard/Irma — Germanic 'whole; universal; great'.

How do you pronounce Erma?

It's said ER-mah /ˈɜr.mə/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Erma a boy or girl name?

Erma is a girl's name.

How popular is Erma?

Erma is a rare name in the U.S. today.