When was Thelma most popular?

The name Thelma reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.

What are the origins of the name Thelma Bey?

The name Thelma Bey combines two different traditions: the first name Thelma has Greek roots, while the surname Bey originates from French.

Thelma Bey — 271K & 5K bearers

Thelma Bey is a name that combines Greek origins. The first name Thelma is a feminine given name of Greek origin. Thelma is a female given name. It was popularized by Victorian writer Marie Corelli who gave the name to the title character of her 1887 novel Thelma. Although the character was supposed to be Norwegian, it is not a traditional Scandinavian name. It may be related to a Greek word meaning "will, volition" see Thelema). Note that although consonant with another female given name, Selma, the two are not synonymous. The surname Bey: Ahmed Bey (1784–1850), the last Bey of Constantine; a nineteenth century Algerian resistance leader against the French occupation Andy Bey (1939–2025), American jazz singer and pianist Bozan Shaheen Bey (1890–1968), Kurdish tribal leader, politician, and nationalist Chief Bey (1913–2004), American jazz musician Chris Bey (born 1996), American professional wrestler David Bey (1957–2017), American boxer Dawoud Bey (born 1953), American photographer Djevdet Bey (1878–1955), Ottoman Albanian governor Erich Bey (1898–1943), German admiral during the Second World War Essad Bey (pen name of Lev Nussi. Thelma is a well-known first name, carried by approximately 271K people globally, with the highest concentration in United States. The name Thelma reached peak popularity in the 1970s, reflecting the naming trends of that era.

Etymology & Origin

First Name: Thelma

Greek

Thelma is a female given name. It was popularized by Victorian writer Marie Corelli who gave the name to the title character of her 1887 novel Thelma. Although the character was supposed to be Norwegian, it is not a traditional Scandinavian name. It may be related to a Greek word meaning "will, volition" see Thelema). Note that although consonant with another female given name, Selma, the two are not synonymous.

Surname: Bey

French

Ahmed Bey (1784–1850), the last Bey of Constantine; a nineteenth century Algerian resistance leader against the French occupation Andy Bey (1939–2025), American jazz singer and pianist Bozan Shaheen Bey (1890–1968), Kurdish tribal leader, politician, and nationalist Chief Bey (1913–2004), American jazz musician Chris Bey (born 1996), American professional wrestler David Bey (1957–2017), American boxer Dawoud Bey (born 1953), American photographer Djevdet Bey (1878–1955), Ottoman Albanian governor Erich Bey (1898–1943), German admiral during the Second World War Essad Bey (pen name of Lev Nussi.

Geographic Distribution

The first name Thelma is distributed across the globe, with the highest concentrations in the following countries:

United States 52%

United Kingdom 27%

Australia 12%

Canada 10%

Popularity Over Time

Popularity of the name Thelma by decade, based on birth registration data:

1900s

1910s

1920s

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Notable People Named Thelma Bey

People listed above share this name. Listed for informational purposes only. Source: Wikipedia.

Numerology

According to Pythagorean numerology, each letter in a name carries a numerical value. Here are the key numbers for Thelma Bey:

1

Expression Number

Leadership and independence. This number suggests a self-reliant, ambitious and pioneering personality that forges its own path.

11

Soul Urge Number

Intuition and inspiration (Master Number 11). Amplifies spiritual awareness, creative vision and sensitivity.

8

Personality Number

Ambition and material success. Represents power, business acumen and the drive to achieve significant goals.

Numerology is a cultural tradition for exploring symbolism in names. Results are for entertainment purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the origin of the first name Thelma?: The first name Thelma originates from Greek. Thelma is a female given name. It was popularized by Victorian writer Marie Corelli who gave the name to the title character of her 1887 novel Thelma. Although the character was supposed to be Norwegian, it is not a traditional Scandinavian name. It may be related to a Greek word meaning "will, volition" see Thelema). Note that although consonant with another female given name, Selma, the two are not synonymous.
When was Thelma most popular?: The name Thelma reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.
What is the origin of the surname Bey?: The surname Bey originates from French. Ahmed Bey (1784–1850), the last Bey of Constantine; a nineteenth century Algerian resistance leader against the French occupation Andy Bey (1939–2025), American jazz singer and pianist Bozan Shaheen Bey (1890–1968), Kurdish tribal leader, politician, and nationalist Chief Bey (1913–2004), American jazz musician Chris Bey (born 1996), American professional wrestler David Bey (1957–2017), American boxer Dawoud Bey (born 1953), American photographer Djevdet Bey (1878–1955), Ottoman Albanian governor Erich Bey (1898–1943), German admiral during the Second World War Essad Bey (pen name of Lev Nussi.
What are the origins of the name Thelma Bey?: The name Thelma Bey combines two different traditions: the first name Thelma has Greek roots, while the surname Bey originates from French.