Girl name · Germanic
Irma
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: whole, greatIrma is a girl's name that comes from Germanic and means "whole, great". It is used in Italian, Spanish and German.
- Meaning
- Whole, great
- Origin
- Germanic
- Gender
- Girl
- US rank
- #3181 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Irma
As a girl's name, Irma comes from Germanic and means "whole, great". It is used in Italian, Spanish and German.
In German, say EER-mah. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Irma on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Irma on 4 lists.
“Vintage and spirited”
From Porch goose names, vintage and classic porch goose names
“Whole, great; Germanic irmin. Say EER-mah”
From German girl names, traditional German female names
“Whole, great; Germanic. Say EER-mah”
From Italian girl names, short Italian girl names
“Whole, universal; Germanic. Say EER-mah”
From Mexican girl names, classic Mexican female names
How popular is Irma?
- US rank in 2025
- #3,181
- 50 babies, 31 per million girls
- Best rank
- #137 in 1911
- Most babies: 1,393 in 1920
- Babies since 1880
- At least 73,769
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 558 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 1,083 per million |
| 1900s | 1,335 per million |
| 1910s | 1,283 per million |
| 1920s | 1,024 per million |
| 1930s | 799 per million |
| 1940s | 535 per million |
| 1950s | 490 per million |
| 1960s | 387 per million |
| 1970s | 261 per million |
| 1980s | 154 per million |
| 1990s | 123 per million |
| 2000s | 73 per million |
| 2010s | 36 per million |
| 2020s | 40 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #2,526 | #2,521 | #3,130 | #3,524 | #2,510 | #2,835 | #2,539 | #2,600 | #2,592 | #3,181 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Irma
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- ImkeWhole, great (Germanic, girl)
Names spelled like Irma
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- IraShort form of Irina, peace (Greek, girl)
- IrmakRiver (Turkish, girl)
- IrisA rainbow (Greek, girl)
- IdaWork, industrious (Germanic, girl)
- IngaNamed for Ing, a Germanic god (Old Norse, girl)
- IonaFrom the island of Iona (Scottish place name, girl)
- IslaFrom the island of Islay (Scottish place name, girl)
- ʻIlimaGolden native flower (Hawaiian, girl)
- IaraLady of the water (Tupi, girl)
Names with a similar meaning
- EmmaWhole, universal (Germanic, girl)
- MagnusThe great (Latin, boy)
- AugustaGreat, venerable (Latin, girl)
- AugustGreat, venerable (Latin, unisex)
- AugustinVenerable, great (Latin, boy)
- EmmyWhole, universal (Germanic, girl)
- ErmentrudeWhole strength (Germanic, girl)
- GrantGreat, large (Old French, boy)
- GusGreat, venerable (Latin, boy)
- ImeldaGreat battle (Germanic, girl)
Middle names for Irma
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More girl names from Germanic
- AlinaShort form of Adelina, Albina and names ending in -alina (Germanic, girl)
- AliceNobility, of noble kind (Germanic, girl)
- CharlotteFree man, feminine of Charles (Germanic, girl)
- LouiseFamous warrior (Germanic, girl)
- AdaNoble (Germanic, girl)
- AdelaNoble (Germanic, girl)
- AdeleNoble one (Germanic, girl)
- AmeliaPossibly vigorous, brave (Germanic, girl)
- BertaBright, famous (Germanic, girl)
- CarlaFree man, feminine of Charles (Germanic, girl)
Irma: common questions
What does the name Irma mean?
Irma comes from Germanic and means "whole, great".
Is Irma a boy or girl name?
Irma is mainly a girl's name.
Where does the name Irma come from?
Irma comes from Germanic and means "whole, great". Today it is used in Italian, Spanish and German.
How popular is the name Irma?
Irma ranked #3,181 in the US in 2025, with 50 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Irma?
Forms of Irma with the same meaning and origin include Imke (German).
What middle names go with Irma?
Middle names that flow well with Irma include Amber, Angelina, Aurora, Celeste and Hazel. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.