Thelma is an attractive female given name of Greek origin that means "will" or "desire." It was coined by American author Frank L. Baum for the heroine of his 1900 novel, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." In the story, Thelma is a young woman who is transformed into a beautiful girl after her wish to be beautiful comes true. Although not widely used today, Thelma remains a timeless and elegant name with a fascinating literary history behind it.
"Initially popular in the late 19th century, with a peak of over 7000 births per year between 1894 and 1905, the name Thelma experienced a significant decline thereafter, dropping to fewer than 100 births per year by the 1960s. Since then, it has continued to decrease in popularity, with only 22 births recorded in 2023."