Hilma is a feminine given name of Germanic origin. It comes from the Old High German word "hilm" which means "protection" or "helmet". The name has been used since the Middle Ages and was popular among the German nobility during that time.
The name Hilma is also associated with the Finnish artist Hilma af Klint (1862-1944), who was a pioneer of abstract art. She was known for her spiritual paintings and her influence on future generations of artists.
In Sweden, the name Hilma has been popular since the early 20th century and it ranked among the top 100 most popular names for girls in the country during the 1930s and 1940s. Today, it is still used but less frequently than before.
Overall, Hilma is a unique and historic name with a strong meaning behind it. It's not very common today, which makes it a great choice for parents looking for an unusual yet meaningful name for their daughter.
The name Hilma has a fascinating history of popularity in the United States over the past century and a half. Between 1880 and 1971, there were a total of 2999 babies named Hilma born in the U.S.
Looking at the yearly statistics from 1880 to 1971, we can see that the name Hilma experienced periods of popularity followed by periods of decline. The highest number of births occurred in 1915 with 105 babies named Hilma, which is a significant jump from the previous year's 99 births.
However, after reaching this peak, the number of babies named Hilma began to decrease steadily until it reached an all-time low in 1971 with only 5 births. This trend continued throughout most of the mid-20th century, with fewer than 20 babies named Hilma born each year between 1946 and 1971.
Despite this decline in popularity, there were still periods where the name Hilma remained relatively common. For example, during the 1920s and early 1930s, there were consistently around 50-75 births each year. Additionally, between 1906 and 1914, there was a consistent trend of increasing popularity for the name Hilma, with more than 30 babies named Hilma born each year.
In conclusion, while the name Hilma may not be as popular today as it once was in the early 20th century, its history of popularity over the past century and a half is still noteworthy. With nearly three thousand babies named Hilma born in the United States since 1880, this unique name has left its mark on American naming trends.