Imelda Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Imelda has its roots in Old German, meaning 'warrior maiden'. It evolved from Old High German 'Irminhild' to Modern German 'Imelda'. The name is characterized by its strength and femininity, with no direct biblical relevance. Its popularity rose in the early 20th century, largely due to associations with notable figures.
The name Imelda is most popular in Texas, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation X (Gen X) generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Imelda has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Imelda' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 961st out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1109th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1280th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1065th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1655th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 3184th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 4368th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Imelda' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Imelda"
Pronunciation
/ɪˈmɛldə/
Origin
Old German
Etymology
The name Imelda is derived from the Germanic elements 'irmin', meaning 'universal' or 'great', and 'hild', meaning 'battle'. Thus, it can be interpreted as 'warrior maiden' or 'universal battle'.
Meaning
warrior maiden
Language Evolution
Old High German: Irminhild, Middle High German: Erminhild, Modern German: Imelda
Historical Usage
Imelda gained popularity in the early 20th century, particularly in Italy and Spain, often associated with Saint Imelda, a young girl known for her piety.
Variants & Derivatives
Imelda, Milda, Immy
Modern Popularity & Image
Imelda is less common in contemporary times but carries a vintage charm, often associated with strength and femininity.
Famous People
Imelda Marcos, former First Lady of the Philippines, Imelda Staunton, English actress
Explore More Imelda Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Imelda"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Imelda"
"Imelda" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 961st of 9107 | 1,014 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 1109th of 9204 | 810 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 1280th of 12526 | 1,239 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 1065th of 19264 | 1,825 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 1655th of 27321 | 1,337 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 3184th of 35406 | 780 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 4368th of 30306 | 391 |
Regional Popularity of "Imelda" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Imelda" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
55.30% 783rd/1416 |
42.71% 589th/1379 |
74.60% 1765th/2366 |
100.00% 1142nd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
62.61% 968th/1546 |
63.43% 987th/1556 |
42.07% 990th/2353 |
94.96% 1469th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
89.99% 2004th/2227 |
- |
28.15% 803rd/2853 |
39.50% 1096th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
48.96% 1438th/2937 |
100.00% 3483rd/3483 |
22.29% 784th/3518 |
15.41% 623rd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
54.06% 1992nd/3685 |
- |
24.89% 1293rd/5194 |
15.10% 954th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
100.00% 4582nd/4582 |
- |
33.37% 2440th/7313 |
24.72% 1845th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - |
48.40% 3302nd/6822 |
45.94% 2883rd/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Imelda"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Imelda" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.