Thelma

girlEnglish (literary)

Thelma is an girl name of English (literary) origin, meaning “Possibly 'will, wish'”.

MeaningPossibly 'will, wish'
GenderGirl
OriginEnglish (literary)
PronunciationTHEL-muh
TraditionModern & Classic
Used inUnited States, United Kingdom, Australia

Meaning and origin of Thelma

Thelma was made famous, and possibly created, by the British novelist Marie Corelli in her 1887 novel Thelma, about a Norwegian heroine. It is often explained as coming from the Greek thelema, 'will' or 'wish', but Corelli never said where she took it from. The name was popular in Britain and America in the early twentieth century and has become familiar again through the 1991 film Thelma and Louise.

Is Thelma a religious name?

Thelma is a literary invention with no religious background.

How popular is Thelma?

Popular around 1900 to 1930; rare today.

Gifts with the name Thelma

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Spellings and variants of Thelma

Telma

Names similar to Thelma

VelmaNormaWilmaEdna

More girl names

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Thelma mean?

Thelma means 'Possibly 'will, wish''. It is of English (literary) origin.

Does Thelma have a religious meaning?

Thelma is a literary invention with no religious background.

How do you pronounce Thelma?

Thelma is pronounced THEL-muh.

Is Thelma a boy or girl name?

Thelma is usually a girl name.

Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.