Fun Facts About the Name Norma
- An established favorite: Norma held a place in the U.S. top 100 for 30 consecutive years, from 1918 through 1947.
- More than 279 thousand babies named Norma: U.S. records list 279,346 babies given the name Norma from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,278 boys received the name Norma - about 1 boy for every 218 girls.
What Does the Name Norma Mean?
Norma is a feminine name taken from the Latin noun norma, which means "carpenter's square" - the tool used to lay out and check right angles - and, by extension, "rule," "pattern," or "standard." The literal sense is the measuring instrument; the extended sense is a model or rule, the same sense preserved in the English word norm.
The Latin noun norma is of uncertain origin. Some scholars have proposed that Latin borrowed it from Etruscan, a language that supplied Latin with several words of similar shape, but that explanation is not settled. The name is not related in origin to Norman, which comes from Old Norse and Frankish words meaning "Northman," nor to Nora, despite the resemblance.
Norma Name History & Origins
The Latin word norma passed into the European languages as a general term for a rule or standard, and English norm reached the language through French. Its use as a woman's given name belongs chiefly to the modern period. In the English-speaking world the name is closely associated with Vincenzo Bellini's opera Norma, first performed in 1831; its libretto, by Felice Romani, was based on the French play Norma, ou L'infanticide by Alexandre Soumet, and the title role is a Druid priestess, one of the best-known parts in the soprano repertoire. The opera made the name widely recognizable, though the earliest documented use of Norma as a given name is not tied to any single work.
The name is also used in Italy, Spain, and German- and Scandinavian-speaking countries, where the Latin root word is familiar. In the 20th century it remained visible in English-speaking popular culture - for instance as the title of the film Norma Rae (1979) and as the name of the fading silent-film star Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard (1950).
How Popular is the Name Norma?
Norma remained among the top 100 girl names in the U.S. from 1918 to 1947. Its highest annual birth count was in 1931, and people born that year turn 95 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,012 | 95 | 0.0059% |
| 2024 | #2,620 | 67 | 0.0042% |
| 2023 | #2,189 | 87 | 0.0054% |
| 2022 | #2,153 | 89 | 0.0054% |
| 2021 | #1,975 | 99 | 0.0060% |
| 2020 | #2,370 | 75 | 0.0046% |
| 2019 | #2,422 | 74 | 0.0044% |
| 2018 | #2,267 | 81 | 0.0048% |
| 2017 | #2,298 | 81 | 0.0047% |
| 2016 | #2,216 | 87 | 0.0049% |
| 2015 | #2,398 | 77 | 0.0043% |
| 2014 | #2,250 | 84 | 0.0047% |
| 2013 | #2,184 | 86 | 0.0049% |
| 2012 | #2,895 | 60 | 0.0034% |
| 2011 | #1,905 | 105 | 0.0060% |
| 2010 | #1,766 | 117 | 0.0066% |
| 2009 | #1,740 | 126 | 0.0069% |
| 2008 | #1,537 | 151 | 0.0080% |
| 2007 | #1,529 | 151 | 0.0079% |
| 2006 | #1,187 | 205 | 0.0108% |
| 2005 | #1,188 | 194 | 0.0105% |
| 2004 | #1,093 | 210 | 0.0114% |
| 2003 | #1,090 | 203 | 0.0111% |
| 2002 | #928 | 242 | 0.0135% |
| 2001 | #859 | 266 | 0.0148% |
| 2000 | #903 | 243 | 0.0134% |
| 1999 | #760 | 292 | 0.0165% |
| 1998 | #720 | 307 | 0.0174% |
| 1997 | #631 | 355 | 0.0204% |
| 1996 | #668 | 332 | 0.0189% |
| 1995 | #528 | 456 | 0.0259% |
| 1994 | #541 | 452 | 0.0253% |
| 1993 | #531 | 451 | 0.0249% |
| 1992 | #516 | 462 | 0.0251% |
| 1991 | #480 | 508 | 0.0271% |
| 1990 | #494 | 494 | 0.0260% |
| 1989 | #455 | 534 | 0.0290% |
| 1988 | #501 | 449 | 0.0252% |
| 1987 | #471 | 464 | 0.0267% |
| 1986 | #457 | 472 | 0.0275% |
| 1985 | #439 | 498 | 0.0289% |
| 1984 | #450 | 463 | 0.0275% |
| 1983 | #419 | 519 | 0.0311% |
| 1982 | #350 | 669 | 0.0395% |
| 1981 | #323 | 729 | 0.0437% |
| 1980 | #319 | 758 | 0.0457% |
| 1979 | #310 | 774 | 0.0482% |
| 1978 | #317 | 721 | 0.0471% |
| 1977 | #306 | 778 | 0.0507% |
| 1976 | #258 | 925 | 0.0631% |
| 1975 | #236 | 1,023 | 0.0702% |
| 1974 | #241 | 1,062 | 0.0724% |
| 1973 | #243 | 1,042 | 0.0715% |
| 1972 | #239 | 1,151 | 0.0757% |
| 1971 | #223 | 1,361 | 0.0818% |
| 1970 | #218 | 1,435 | 0.0821% |
| 1969 | #203 | 1,556 | 0.0922% |
| 1968 | #201 | 1,550 | 0.0945% |
| 1967 | #173 | 1,828 | 0.1107% |
| 1966 | #178 | 1,859 | 0.1099% |
| 1965 | #171 | 2,051 | 0.1162% |
| 1964 | #157 | 2,430 | 0.1282% |
| 1963 | #163 | 2,457 | 0.1275% |
| 1962 | #155 | 2,678 | 0.1362% |
| 1961 | #164 | 2,549 | 0.1263% |
| 1960 | #162 | 2,560 | 0.1266% |
| 1959 | #157 | 2,722 | 0.1345% |
| 1958 | #149 | 2,737 | 0.1361% |
| 1957 | #141 | 2,983 | 0.1459% |
| 1956 | #138 | 3,046 | 0.1517% |
| 1955 | #137 | 2,935 | 0.1501% |
| 1954 | #128 | 3,103 | 0.1598% |
| 1953 | #122 | 3,168 | 0.1684% |
| 1952 | #112 | 3,341 | 0.1802% |
| 1951 | #107 | 3,355 | 0.1863% |
| 1950 | #104 | 3,411 | 0.1991% |
| 1949 | #105 | 3,413 | 0.1995% |
| 1948 | #103 | 3,592 | 0.2116% |
| 1947 | #82 | 4,425 | 0.2496% |
| 1946 | #77 | 4,266 | 0.2715% |
| 1945 | #74 | 3,603 | 0.2756% |
| 1944 | #66 | 3,864 | 0.2911% |
| 1943 | #58 | 4,541 | 0.3255% |
| 1942 | #52 | 4,971 | 0.3680% |
| 1941 | #47 | 5,021 | 0.4156% |
| 1940 | #43 | 5,334 | 0.4665% |
| 1939 | #38 | 5,827 | 0.5314% |
| 1938 | #34 | 6,367 | 0.5770% |
| 1937 | #33 | 6,235 | 0.5860% |
| 1936 | #29 | 6,633 | 0.6376% |
| 1935 | #29 | 6,869 | 0.6551% |
| 1934 | #24 | 7,787 | 0.7457% |
| 1933 | #23 | 7,483 | 0.7424% |
| 1932 | #22 | 8,406 | 0.7877% |
| 1931 | #22 | 8,759 | 0.8227% |
| 1930 | #25 | 8,511 | 0.7559% |
| 1929 | #25 | 7,894 | 0.7070% |
| 1928 | #23 | 8,165 | 0.7080% |
| 1927 | #26 | 7,997 | 0.6706% |
| 1926 | #29 | 7,528 | 0.6351% |
| 1925 | #34 | 6,941 | 0.5702% |
| 1924 | #40 | 6,542 | 0.5238% |
| 1923 | #41 | 5,885 | 0.4878% |
| 1922 | #46 | 5,238 | 0.4361% |
| 1921 | #51 | 5,102 | 0.4138% |
| 1920 | #69 | 3,949 | 0.3296% |
| 1919 | #83 | 3,199 | 0.2831% |
| 1918 | #98 | 2,653 | 0.2292% |
| 1917 | #108 | 2,123 | 0.1963% |
| 1916 | #111 | 1,921 | 0.1839% |
| 1915 | #118 | 1,737 | 0.1766% |
| 1914 | #128 | 1,172 | 0.1539% |
| 1913 | #139 | 878 | 0.1406% |
| 1912 | #137 | 800 | 0.1433% |
| 1911 | #153 | 531 | 0.1269% |
| 1910 | #159 | 486 | 0.1226% |
| 1909 | #158 | 438 | 0.1261% |
| 1908 | #157 | 430 | 0.1286% |
| 1907 | #164 | 375 | 0.1177% |
| 1906 | #165 | 332 | 0.1124% |
| 1905 | #169 | 311 | 0.1066% |
| 1904 | #174 | 281 | 0.1020% |
| 1903 | #158 | 311 | 0.1187% |
| 1902 | #172 | 277 | 0.1049% |
| 1901 | #171 | 264 | 0.1103% |
| 1900 | #174 | 316 | 0.1054% |
| 1899 | #191 | 214 | 0.0918% |
| 1898 | #187 | 241 | 0.0931% |
| 1897 | #195 | 200 | 0.0854% |
| 1896 | #198 | 197 | 0.0828% |
| 1895 | #181 | 219 | 0.0937% |
| 1894 | #202 | 174 | 0.0781% |
| 1893 | #187 | 189 | 0.0888% |
| 1892 | #184 | 190 | 0.0895% |
| 1891 | #209 | 127 | 0.0685% |
| 1890 | #207 | 134 | 0.0704% |
| 1889 | #223 | 108 | 0.0605% |
| 1888 | #230 | 101 | 0.0565% |
| 1887 | #240 | 77 | 0.0527% |
| 1886 | #241 | 72 | 0.0498% |
| 1885 | #277 | 51 | 0.0383% |
| 1884 | #299 | 42 | 0.0326% |
| 1883 | #260 | 49 | 0.0436% |
| 1882 | #315 | 32 | 0.0297% |
| 1881 | #314 | 26 | 0.0283% |
| 1880 | #277 | 32 | 0.0352% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | #9,742 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1992 | #8,161 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1991 | #7,964 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #6,252 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1989 | #5,474 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1988 | #5,577 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1987 | #3,463 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1986 | #3,596 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1985 | #3,742 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1984 | #3,860 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1983 | #3,186 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1982 | #2,573 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1981 | #4,396 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1980 | #6,981 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1979 | #4,717 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1978 | #2,887 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1977 | #4,959 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1976 | #2,789 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1975 | #4,649 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1974 | #4,083 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1973 | #2,973 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1972 | #4,305 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1971 | #2,925 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1970 | #2,265 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1969 | #3,005 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1968 | #2,273 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1967 | #2,920 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1966 | #2,579 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1965 | #1,763 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1964 | #3,216 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1962 | #2,626 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1961 | #1,924 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1960 | #2,282 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1959 | #2,269 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1958 | #2,146 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1957 | #2,962 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1956 | #2,069 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1955 | #4,229 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1954 | #1,872 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1953 | #2,015 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1952 | #3,035 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1951 | #2,613 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1950 | #2,001 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1949 | #2,087 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1948 | #2,191 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1947 | #1,771 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1946 | #2,117 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1945 | #1,992 | 13 | 0.0010% |
| 1944 | #1,951 | 14 | 0.0010% |
| 1943 | #1,515 | 22 | 0.0015% |
| 1942 | #1,452 | 24 | 0.0017% |
| 1941 | #1,437 | 23 | 0.0019% |
| 1940 | #1,510 | 21 | 0.0018% |
| 1939 | #1,416 | 23 | 0.0021% |
| 1938 | #1,087 | 36 | 0.0032% |
| 1937 | #1,160 | 33 | 0.0031% |
| 1936 | #1,379 | 24 | 0.0023% |
| 1935 | #1,118 | 35 | 0.0034% |
| 1934 | #1,186 | 32 | 0.0031% |
| 1933 | #1,044 | 39 | 0.0039% |
| 1932 | #1,000 | 44 | 0.0042% |
| 1931 | #1,124 | 37 | 0.0036% |
| 1930 | #1,109 | 40 | 0.0036% |
| 1929 | #1,124 | 39 | 0.0036% |
| 1928 | #1,321 | 31 | 0.0028% |
| 1927 | #1,501 | 26 | 0.0023% |
| 1926 | #1,454 | 26 | 0.0023% |
| 1925 | #1,566 | 24 | 0.0022% |
| 1924 | #1,947 | 18 | 0.0016% |
| 1923 | #1,850 | 19 | 0.0017% |
| 1922 | #2,592 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1921 | #2,126 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1920 | #3,138 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1919 | #3,646 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1918 | #2,236 | 14 | 0.0014% |
| 1917 | #2,665 | 10 | 0.0011% |
| 1916 | #3,771 | 6 | 0.0007% |
| 1912 | #2,472 | 6 | 0.0014% |
| 1908 | #1,323 | 6 | 0.0039% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Norma
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Norma Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have a vivid imagination who can bring inspired messages to the world. You like to enjoy the pleasures of life, and when self is overcome, you can rise to the heights. You have an ability to avoid trouble - that is why you often fails to learn from experiences. You are restless, sociable people-oriented, a lover of change, and a seeker of adventure and new thrills. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
You are very intuitive. You have a reservoir of inspired wisdom combined with inherited analytical ability, which could reward you through expressions of spiritual leadership, business analysis, marketing, artistic visions, and scientific research. Operating on spiritual side of your individuality can bring you to the great heights, and drop you off if you neglect your spiritual identity. You are always looking for an opportunity to investigate the unknown, to use and show your mental abilities, to find the purpose and meaning of life. You want to grow wise and to understand people and things. You need privacy to replenish your energy. You have a unique way of thinking, intuitive, reflective, absorbing.
✦ Norma's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Norma's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.