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Welda
Pronounced WEL-duh /หwษldษ/Low
Meaning: Welda is an early twentieth-century name generally understood as a short form of Germanic names containing the element wald, 'rule' or 'power,' such as Griselda and Waldeburg. It stands close to Zelda and Velda, all sharing that old Germanic flavor, and it belonged to the pre-1950 generation of homespun American girls' names.Low
Popularity in the U.S. ยท SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880โpresent). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Welda is a vintage American name from the early twentieth century, usually explained as a clipped form of Germanic names built on wald, 'rule, power,' like Griselda. It sits beside Velda and Zelda in sound and era, and it reads today as a genuine great-grandmother name of the pre-war years.
Welda was never common, given to only about fourteen girls a year at its early-1940s peak and first appearing back in the 1910s. A woman named Welda then would be near a hundred today; the name has the plain, sturdy charm of its early-century generation.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Welda mean?
It is a vintage name, usually a short form of Germanic names with wald, 'rule, power,' as in Griselda; sometimes linked to Zelda.
How do you pronounce Welda?
It is said WEL-duh /หwษldษ/ - two syllables, with the stress on the first.
Is Welda a boy or girl name?
Welda is used as a girl's name.
How popular is Welda?
It was always rare in the United States, given to only about fourteen girls a year at its peak in the early nineteen-forties.