Nelda

♀ Girl

Pronounced NEL-dah /ˈnɛl.dɑ/High

Meaning: A modern name, variously read as 'from/by the elder tree' and as an extension of Nell (from Eleanor/Helen, 'light'); routes layeredLow

In 30 seconds: From the elder tree; a Nell name: Nelda. Crisp, vintage, and warm.

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Origin LowAmerican, English

MeaningA modern name, variously read as 'from/by the elder tree' and as an extension of Nell (from Eleanor/Helen, 'light'); routes layered

U.S. rank (2024)#9352 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births11 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1938

Total births (all-time)≈ 20,129

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

Nelda is a modern name, with no single fixed root — variously read as 'from/by the elder tree' and as an extension of Nell (from Eleanor/Helen, 'light'; routes layered, which we note). A crisp, vintage name (said 'NEL-dah').

In the U.S. it appears as an early-20th-century name. Rare, from-the-elder-tree at the root, and crisp.

Did you know? Nelda is a modern name, variously 'from the elder tree' and an extension of Nell (from Eleanor, 'light') — a crisp, vintage name (the routes are layered, which we note; said 'NEL-dah').

Overall data confidence 28%

References — Nelda — routes layered

Variations

NelldaNelida

Nicknames

Nell

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Nelda…

Nell— a source-linked name

Zelda— a sound-neighbor -elda girls' name

Imelda— a companion -elda girls' name

Vayda— shares Nelda's American roots

Koda— another English name

Explore names like Nelda

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Nelda mean?

Nelda is variously 'from the elder tree' and an extension of Nell ('light'); the routes are layered.

How do you pronounce Nelda?

It's said NEL-dah /ˈnɛl.dɑ/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Nelda a boy or girl name?

Nelda is a girl's name.

How popular is Nelda?

Nelda is a very rare name in the U.S. today.