Norma
Norma: name meaning, origin and popularity
Meaning and origin of Norma
Root meaning: “pattern, model”
- A female given name originating as a coinage.
Etymology
Coined name of an imaginary Celtic priestess in Bellini's opera Norma (1831). Sometimes explained as Latin norma (“pattern, model”), or as a feminine form of Norman.
How popular is Norma?
Since 1880, 278,071 girls and 1,278 boys in the U.S. have been named Norma (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #22 in 1931. Its highest rank for boys was #1000 in 1932. In 2025, 95 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Norma
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
Sibling name ideas for Norma
Names that peaked around the same time as Norma and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Norma FAQ
What does the name Norma mean?
Norma traces back to a root meaning "pattern, model". A female given name originating as a coinage. Coined name of an imaginary Celtic priestess in Bellini's opera Norma (1831). Sometimes explained as Latin norma (“pattern, model”), or as a feminine form of Norman.
How popular is the name Norma?
Since 1880, 278,071 girls and 1,278 boys in the U.S. have been named Norma (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #22 in 1931. Its highest rank for boys was #1000 in 1932. In 2025, 95 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Norma a boy or girl name?
Norma is mostly a girl name in the U.S.: 278,071 girls and 1,278 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.