Thelma

Thelma is a female first name that is primarily common in English-speaking countries. The exact origins of the name are not clearly defined.

What does the name Thelma mean?

The name Thelma may have originated from the author Marie Corelli, who coined it for her novel 'Thelma: a society novel'. Another possibility is its derivation from Greek, where it means 'she who knows what she wants' or 'the strong-willed'. This origin can be traced back to the ancient Greek word thélema (θέλημα), which means 'will' or 'wish'. Additionally, Thelma could also be derived from the Nordic name Þórleifr, meaning 'the legacy of Thor', as the name Telma has been documented in Norway since at least 1827. Its roots lie in the Old Norse elements Þórr for 'Thor' (thunder) and leif for 'heritage' or 'legacy'. In the 20th century, the name made its way from English to Germany.

Where does the name Thelma come from?

The etymological origin of Thelma is both ancient Greek and invented, meaning 'she who knows what she wants'. The ancient Greek root thélema (θέλημα) means 'will' or 'wish', while the Old Norse derivation from Þórleifr, consisting of Þórr (Thor, thunder) and leif (heritage, legacy), also plays a role. The name is prevalent in the English language.

How do you pronounce Thelma?

The sound quality of Thelma is both firm and gentle. In German pronunciation, the name is usually rendered as 'TEL-ma' [ˈtɛlma], with the 'Th' pronounced as a simple T. The consonant combination '-lm-' gives the name substance, while the open '-a' gently rounds off the sound. Thus, Thelma conveys a down-to-earth, characterful impression – calm, distinctive, and present.

Popularity

In Germany, Thelma is a common first name and currently ranks 3,210th on the list of most popular female first names. Its best placement was in 2009 at rank 2,111. In the last ten years, the name has been given about 80 times, placing it 2,917th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 3,516th.

Nicknames & pet names

Thel / Thelly / Thelm / Thelmchen / Thelmilein

Similar first names

Famous people

• Thelma Alice Todd (actress)
• Thelma Aoyama (singer from Japan)
• Thelma Barlow (actress from England)
• Thelma Biral (Argentinian actress)
• Thelma Buabeng (Ghanaian actress)
• Thelma Carpenter (actress from the USA)
• Thelma Cudlipp (artist from America)
• Thelma Del Rio (Argentinian actress)
• Thelma Eisen (American baseball player)
• Thelma Ellen Wood (sculptor from the USA)
• Thelma Hill (American actress)
• Thelma Hopkins (British athlete)
• Thelma Houston (singer from the USA)
• Thelma Hulbert (English artist)
• Thelma Kingsbury (American badminton player)
• Thelma Lee (actress from America)
• Thelma Leeds (American actress)
• Thelma Long (Australian tennis player)
• Thelma Madrigal (actress from Mexico)
• Thelma Marjorie Ford (American actress)