Norma

Norma - A very unique female name

Norma appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #159. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Norma and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Norma? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Norma. The baby girl name Norma was given to 44 baby girls in 2025, ranking #2106 on the national girl baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 29,624 baby girls were given this name - making this a very unique female name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Norma peaked in popularity 95 years ago in 1931 on position 22.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Norma, 1-5?

Norma is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Norma is currently topping the baby name charts in Wisconsin at position #891 - and is the least popular in California at position #2,434.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Norma is where you live.

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Norma origin and meaning

Latin / Norman — derivation disputed

Uncertain — Norma is usually explained either from Latin norma, 'rule, pattern, standard,' or as a feminine form of Norman ('north man'); Bellini's 1831 opera Norma popularised it without settling its origin

Norma was a top name of the 1930s, peaking in 1931 at over 8,700 births, carried by both Bellini's druid priestess and Norma Shearer's film fame. It fell for decades afterwards. Like Mildred, it shows a modest rise in rank in the 2020s from a very low base — vintage-revival interest rather than a trend.

Origin uncertain

Norma is a 5 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Norma, pop culture references for the name Norma and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Norma

We've found the following names that sound similar to Norma, sorted by popularity.

Noreen / Norine / Norene / Normani / Norman / Narine / Nerine / Norrine /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Norma

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Norma a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique female name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Norma?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

NOR-muh · /ˈnɔrmə/

Around the world

• Norma (Italian) — Used as-is in Italian, the language of Bellini's opera.
• Norma (Spanish) — Used as-is in Spanish.

Spellings and nicknames

Nicknames: Norma is a full name; no established diminutive

Famous bearers

• Norma Shearer — Canadian-American film star, one of the defining actresses of 1930s Hollywood (1902–1983) Historical

Style

ClassicInternationalVintage revival

Why parents choose it

Norma is tailored, mid-century and newly interesting again, with an operatic heroine and a Golden Age film star behind it. It offers vintage credibility without the crowds following Hazel and Violet.

Worth knowing

• It still reads dated to many — its peak was 1931 — and the Latin 'rule/pattern' origin, while plausible, is not proven.