When was Thelma most popular?

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

What are the origins of the name Thelma Smiley?

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

Thelma Smiley — 271K & 20K bearers

Thelma Smiley 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 Smiley: Albert Smiley Hoagland (1926–2022), American computer engineer Brett Smiley (singer) (1955–2016), American singer Brett Smiley (politician), American politician Charles Hugh Smiley (1903–1977), American astronomer Colonel David Smiley (1916–2009), British special forces and intelligence officer Forbes Smiley, (born 1956), American map thief Gordon Smiley (1946–1982), American race car driver Jane Smiley (born 1949), American author Janelle Smiley (born 1981), American ski mountaineer John Smiley (baseball) (born 1965), American baseball left-handed pitcher 1980s and '90s Joseph W. 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: Smiley

English

Albert Smiley Hoagland (1926–2022), American computer engineer Brett Smiley (singer) (1955–2016), American singer Brett Smiley (politician), American politician Charles Hugh Smiley (1903–1977), American astronomer Colonel David Smiley (1916–2009), British special forces and intelligence officer Forbes Smiley, (born 1956), American map thief Gordon Smiley (1946–1982), American race car driver Jane Smiley (born 1949), American author Janelle Smiley (born 1981), American ski mountaineer John Smiley (baseball) (born 1965), American baseball left-handed pitcher 1980s and '90s Joseph W.

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 Smiley

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 Smiley:

7

Expression Number

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

2

Soul Urge Number

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

5

Personality Number

Freedom and adaptability. A dynamic, versatile personality that embraces change and seeks new experiences.

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 Smiley?: The surname Smiley originates from English. Albert Smiley Hoagland (1926–2022), American computer engineer Brett Smiley (singer) (1955–2016), American singer Brett Smiley (politician), American politician Charles Hugh Smiley (1903–1977), American astronomer Colonel David Smiley (1916–2009), British special forces and intelligence officer Forbes Smiley, (born 1956), American map thief Gordon Smiley (1946–1982), American race car driver Jane Smiley (born 1949), American author Janelle Smiley (born 1981), American ski mountaineer John Smiley (baseball) (born 1965), American baseball left-handed pitcher 1980s and '90s Joseph W.
What are the origins of the name Thelma Smiley?: The name Thelma Smiley combines two different traditions: the first name Thelma has Greek roots, while the surname Smiley originates from English.