When was Thelma most popular?

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

What are the origins of the name Thelma Oldham?

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

Thelma Oldham — 271K & 13K bearers

Thelma Oldham 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 Oldham: Oldham is a surname meaning "'old lands" with origins tracing to the town of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. Andrew Loog Oldham (born 1944), British rock group manager Arthur Oldham (1926–2003), English chorusmaster, composer Charles Oldham, multiple people Chris Oldham (born 1968), American football player Denver Oldham (1936–2012), American pianist Derek Oldham (1887–1968), English singer and actor Greg Oldham (born 1947), American economist Henry Yule Oldham, (1862–1951), British geographer Hugh Oldham (1450–1519), English bishop Jawann Oldham (1957–2026), American basketball player. 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: Oldham

English

Oldham is a surname meaning "'old lands" with origins tracing to the town of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. Andrew Loog Oldham (born 1944), British rock group manager Arthur Oldham (1926–2003), English chorusmaster, composer Charles Oldham, multiple people Chris Oldham (born 1968), American football player Denver Oldham (1936–2012), American pianist Derek Oldham (1887–1968), English singer and actor Greg Oldham (born 1947), American economist Henry Yule Oldham, (1862–1951), British geographer Hugh Oldham (1450–1519), English bishop Jawann Oldham (1957–2026), American basketball player.

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 Oldham

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 Oldham:

4

Expression Number

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

4

Soul Urge Number

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

9

Personality Number

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

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 Oldham?: The surname Oldham originates from English. Oldham is a surname meaning "'old lands" with origins tracing to the town of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. Andrew Loog Oldham (born 1944), British rock group manager Arthur Oldham (1926–2003), English chorusmaster, composer Charles Oldham, multiple people Chris Oldham (born 1968), American football player Denver Oldham (1936–2012), American pianist Derek Oldham (1887–1968), English singer and actor Greg Oldham (born 1947), American economist Henry Yule Oldham, (1862–1951), British geographer Hugh Oldham (1450–1519), English bishop Jawann Oldham (1957–2026), American basketball player.
What are the origins of the name Thelma Oldham?: The name Thelma Oldham combines two different traditions: the first name Thelma has Greek roots, while the surname Oldham originates from English.