When was Thelma most popular?

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

What are the origins of the name Thelma Chaney?

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

Thelma Chaney — 271K & 33K bearers

Thelma Chaney 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 Chaney: Beej Chaney (1957–2025), American punk/new wave musician Cassius Chaney (born 1987), American boxer Charles "Bubba" Chaney (born 1946), American politician Chris Chaney, American musician Darrel Chaney, American baseball player Don Chaney, American basketball player and coach Edward Chaney, Cultural historian Esty Chaney (1891–1952), American baseball player Fred Chaney, Australian Liberal Party politician and minister in the Fraser government (son of Fred snr) Fred Chaney Sr., Australian Liberal Party politician and minister in the Menzies government George Chaney (1892–1958), American boxer . 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: Chaney

English

Beej Chaney (1957–2025), American punk/new wave musician Cassius Chaney (born 1987), American boxer Charles "Bubba" Chaney (born 1946), American politician Chris Chaney, American musician Darrel Chaney, American baseball player Don Chaney, American basketball player and coach Edward Chaney, Cultural historian Esty Chaney (1891–1952), American baseball player Fred Chaney, Australian Liberal Party politician and minister in the Fraser government (son of Fred snr) Fred Chaney Sr., Australian Liberal Party politician and minister in the Menzies government George Chaney (1892–1958), American boxer .

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 Chaney

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 Chaney:

7

Expression Number

Wisdom and introspection. A deep, analytical mind drawn to philosophy, spirituality and the search for truth.

3

Soul Urge Number

Creativity and self-expression. Associated with artistic flair, optimism and sociability — a natural communicator.

4

Personality Number

Stability and hard work. Represents practicality, reliability and dedication — someone who builds solid foundations.

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 Chaney?: The surname Chaney originates from English. Beej Chaney (1957–2025), American punk/new wave musician Cassius Chaney (born 1987), American boxer Charles "Bubba" Chaney (born 1946), American politician Chris Chaney, American musician Darrel Chaney, American baseball player Don Chaney, American basketball player and coach Edward Chaney, Cultural historian Esty Chaney (1891–1952), American baseball player Fred Chaney, Australian Liberal Party politician and minister in the Fraser government (son of Fred snr) Fred Chaney Sr., Australian Liberal Party politician and minister in the Menzies government George Chaney (1892–1958), American boxer .
What are the origins of the name Thelma Chaney?: The name Thelma Chaney combines two different traditions: the first name Thelma has Greek roots, while the surname Chaney originates from English.