Anselma
A girl's name of Germanic origin with 189 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A female given name, a feminine form of Anselm.
Anselma is a girl's baby name of Germanic origin, the feminine form of Anselm — from the Old High German elements ans (divine power, a god) and helm (helmet, protection), meaning 'divine helmet' or 'protected by God.' Saint Anselm of Canterbury (1033–1109) was one of the greatest theologians of the medieval church.
Anselma is rare and stately — a name with the solid feel of medieval European Christianity and the intellectual legacy of Saint Anselm, who gave us the ontological argument for God's existence.
EtymologyShow more
Anselma is built from 7 letters and three syllables — a mid-length form that balances memorability with distinctiveness. Within the Germanic naming tradition, this length is typical of names that preserve their full historical form, carrying their etymology on the surface.
The interplay of consonants and vowels in Anselma creates its characteristic open, warm quality. Multi-syllable names often carry remnants of compound constructions — two or more meaningful elements fused together — even when the original components are no longer transparent to modern speakers.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Anselma has 27+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1916.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 10 | — |
| 1960s | 11 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 5 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 13 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 45 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 69 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 31 | — |
The Story of Anselma
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1924, Anselma is a name steeped in history. Girls named Anselma are most likely born between 1916 and 1934.
How rare is Anselma?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Anselma is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1916, peaked in the 1920s with 69 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Anselma by the numbers
- Would fill 4 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(27 years, 1916–1999)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 5 | #14581 |
| 1983 | 5 | #10362 |
| 1981 | 5 | #10518 |
| 1963 | 5 | #6639 |
| 1960 | 6 | #5735 |
| 1951 | 5 | #5442 |
| 1949 | 6 | #4695 |
| 1941 | 7 | #3580 |
| 1939 | 5 | #4277 |
| 1938 | 5 | #4367 |
| 1936 | 6 | #3718 |
| 1935 | 7 | #3442 |
| 1934 | 8 | #3173 |
| 1933 | 8 | #3119 |
| 1930 | 6 | #4065 |
| 1929 | 5 | #4604 |
| 1928 | 5 | #4755 |
| 1927 | 8 | #3573 |
| 1926 | 10 | #3056 |
| 1924 | 14 | #2519 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1916–1999