When was Thelma most popular?

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

What are the origins of the name Thelma Oates?

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

Thelma Oates — 271K & 12K bearers

Thelma Oates 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 Oates: Adam Oates (born 1962), Canadian professional ice hockey player Alice Oates (1849–1887), actress and musical theatre pioneer Colin Oates (born 1983), English judoka Corey Oates (born 1994), Australian rugby league player Cynthia de la Vega Oates (born 1991), Mexican model Dan Oates (born 1955), American police chief Delores Riley Oates, American politician Denese Oates (born 1955), Australian artist Eugene William Oates (1845–1911), English naturalist Frank Oates (1840–1875), British African explorer Graham Oates (footballer, born 1943), English footballer Graham Oates (footballer, born 1949). 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: Oates

English

Adam Oates (born 1962), Canadian professional ice hockey player Alice Oates (1849–1887), actress and musical theatre pioneer Colin Oates (born 1983), English judoka Corey Oates (born 1994), Australian rugby league player Cynthia de la Vega Oates (born 1991), Mexican model Dan Oates (born 1955), American police chief Delores Riley Oates, American politician Denese Oates (born 1955), Australian artist Eugene William Oates (1845–1911), English naturalist Frank Oates (1840–1875), British African explorer Graham Oates (footballer, born 1943), English footballer Graham Oates (footballer, born 1949).

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 Oates

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 Oates:

11

Expression Number

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

9

Soul Urge Number

Compassion and humanitarianism. A generous, idealistic nature with a sincere desire to improve the world.

2

Personality Number

Cooperation and sensitivity. A diplomatic, gentle nature with strong empathy, thriving in partnerships and harmony.

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 Oates?: The surname Oates originates from English. Adam Oates (born 1962), Canadian professional ice hockey player Alice Oates (1849–1887), actress and musical theatre pioneer Colin Oates (born 1983), English judoka Corey Oates (born 1994), Australian rugby league player Cynthia de la Vega Oates (born 1991), Mexican model Dan Oates (born 1955), American police chief Delores Riley Oates, American politician Denese Oates (born 1955), Australian artist Eugene William Oates (1845–1911), English naturalist Frank Oates (1840–1875), British African explorer Graham Oates (footballer, born 1943), English footballer Graham Oates (footballer, born 1949).
What are the origins of the name Thelma Oates?: The name Thelma Oates combines two different traditions: the first name Thelma has Greek roots, while the surname Oates originates from English.