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Home › Baby Names Directory › Zelma

Zelma

♀ Girl

Pronounced ZEL-mah /ˈzɛl.mɑ/Medium

Meaning: A spelling of Selma — variously a short form of Anselma (Germanic, 'God's helmet; divine protection') and the Arabic Selma ('safe; secure; peaceful'); routes layeredLow

In 30 seconds: God's protection; safe: Zelma spells Selma. Crisp, vintage, and warm (said 'ZEL-mah').
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Origin LowGermanic, Arabic
MeaningA spelling of Selma — variously a short form of Anselma (Germanic, 'God's helmet; divine protection') and the Arabic Selma ('safe; secure; peaceful'); routes layered
U.S. rank (2025)#7128 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births16 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1919
Total births (all-time)≈ 16,823

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 191918802025

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

Zelma is a spelling of Selma — variously a short form of Anselma (Germanic, 'God's helmet; divine protection') and the Arabic Selma, 'safe; secure; peaceful' (routes layered, which we note). A crisp, vintage name (said 'ZEL-mah'; nickname Zel).

In the U.S. it peaked early-20th century. Rare today, God's-protection-and-safe at the root, and vintage.

Did you know? Selma is variously a short form of Anselma ('God's helmet; divine protection', Germanic) and the Arabic Selma ('safe; secure; peaceful') — Zelma is a spelling, crisp and vintage (the routes are layered, which we note; said 'ZEL-mah').
Overall data confidence 42%
References — Selma — routes layered

Variations

SelmaZelmahThelma

Nicknames

Zel

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Zelma…

Selma— the standard spelling
Thelma— a sound-neighbor -elma vintage girls' name
Wilma— another vintage girls' name
Sama— another Arabic name
Asma— lands in the same popularity range

Explore names like Zelma

By themeuncertainarabicgermanic
By meaningGod / DivineProtectorPeaceHealing

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Zelma mean?

Zelma spells Selma — variously 'God's protection' (Anselma) and 'safe; peaceful' (Arabic); the routes are layered.

How do you pronounce Zelma?

It's said ZEL-mah /ˈzɛl.mɑ/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Zelma a boy or girl name?

Zelma is a girl's name.

How popular is Zelma?

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

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