When was Velma most popular?

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

What are the origins of the name Velma Lau?

The name Velma Lau combines two different traditions: the first name Velma has English roots, while the surname Lau originates from Vietnamese.

Velma Lau — 102K & 30K bearers

Velma Lau is a name that combines English origins. The first name Velma is a feminine given name of English origin. Velma is an English feminine given name of uncertain origin. It might have been created as a rhyming variant of the names Selma and Thelma. It might also have been influenced by the Scandinavian name Vilma or by Wilma, both short forms of the Dutch and German Wilhelmina and feminine versions of William. The name has been most common in North America. It was among the 1,000 most popular names for girls in the United States between 1880 and 1973 and was at the height of its popularity between 1903 and 1917, when it was among the 100 most popular names for American girls. The surname Lau: Amy Lau (1968–2025), American interior designer Andrew Lau (born 1960), Hong Kong director and producer Andy Lau (born 1961), Hong Kong singer and actor Carina Lau (born 1965), Hong Kong-Canadian actress and director Chak Sing Lau, Hong Kong professor of rheumatology Charley Lau (1933–1984), American catcher and hitting coach in Major League Baseball Christel Lau (born 1944), German field hockey player Constance Lau (born 1991), Singaporean actress and model David Lau (born 1966), Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel Emma Lau (born 1991), British actress Evelyn Lau (born 1971), Canadian writer Finn. Velma is a distinctive first name, carried by approximately 102K people globally, with the highest concentration in United States. The name Velma reached peak popularity in the 1970s, reflecting the naming trends of that era.

Etymology & Origin

First Name: Velma

English

Velma is an English feminine given name of uncertain origin. It might have been created as a rhyming variant of the names Selma and Thelma. It might also have been influenced by the Scandinavian name Vilma or by Wilma, both short forms of the Dutch and German Wilhelmina and feminine versions of William. The name has been most common in North America. It was among the 1,000 most popular names for girls in the United States between 1880 and 1973 and was at the height of its popularity between 1903 and 1917, when it was among the 100 most popular names for American girls.

Surname: Lau

Vietnamese

Amy Lau (1968–2025), American interior designer Andrew Lau (born 1960), Hong Kong director and producer Andy Lau (born 1961), Hong Kong singer and actor Carina Lau (born 1965), Hong Kong-Canadian actress and director Chak Sing Lau, Hong Kong professor of rheumatology Charley Lau (1933–1984), American catcher and hitting coach in Major League Baseball Christel Lau (born 1944), German field hockey player Constance Lau (born 1991), Singaporean actress and model David Lau (born 1966), Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel Emma Lau (born 1991), British actress Evelyn Lau (born 1971), Canadian writer Finn.

Geographic Distribution

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

United States 52%

United Kingdom 27%

Australia 12%

Canada 9%

Popularity Over Time

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

1900s

1910s

1920s

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Notable People Named Velma Lau

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 Velma Lau:

6

Expression Number

Nurturing and responsibility. Associated with care, family values and a strong sense of duty towards loved ones.

1

Soul Urge Number

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

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 Velma?: The first name Velma originates from English. Velma is an English feminine given name of uncertain origin. It might have been created as a rhyming variant of the names Selma and Thelma. It might also have been influenced by the Scandinavian name Vilma or by Wilma, both short forms of the Dutch and German Wilhelmina and feminine versions of William. The name has been most common in North America. It was among the 1,000 most popular names for girls in the United States between 1880 and 1973 and was at the height of its popularity between 1903 and 1917, when it was among the 100 most popular names for American girls.
When was Velma most popular?: The name Velma reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.
What is the origin of the surname Lau?: The surname Lau originates from Vietnamese. Amy Lau (1968–2025), American interior designer Andrew Lau (born 1960), Hong Kong director and producer Andy Lau (born 1961), Hong Kong singer and actor Carina Lau (born 1965), Hong Kong-Canadian actress and director Chak Sing Lau, Hong Kong professor of rheumatology Charley Lau (1933–1984), American catcher and hitting coach in Major League Baseball Christel Lau (born 1944), German field hockey player Constance Lau (born 1991), Singaporean actress and model David Lau (born 1966), Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel Emma Lau (born 1991), British actress Evelyn Lau (born 1971), Canadian writer Finn.
What are the origins of the name Velma Lau?: The name Velma Lau combines two different traditions: the first name Velma has English roots, while the surname Lau originates from Vietnamese.