Thelma was coined by the English novelist Marie Corelli for her 1887 bestseller *Thelma, A Society Novel* — possibly from the Greek *thelēma* ("will, desire") or invented as a euphonious modern name. **A top-50 US baby name from 1893 to 1932, peaking at #29 in 1916**. **Thelma & Louise (1991)** — **Ridley Scott's road film starring Susan Sarandon (Louise) and Geena Davis (Thelma); both received Academy Award nominations for Best Actress and Callie Khouri won Best Original Screenplay**; the film became one of the most-influential feminist films of the 1990s, sparking decades of cultural debate; the closing scene of the Thunderbird sailing off the canyon edge has been parodied and referenced across global cinema. **Thelma Houston (born 1946)** — American singer; her 1976 cover of "Don't Leave Me This Way" reached #1 on the *Billboard* Hot 100 and won the Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (1977) — making her the first Black woman to win in that category for a disco single. **Thelma Ritter (1902-1969)** — American character actress; six Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress — including *All About Eve* (1950), *The Mating Season* (1951), *With a Song in My Heart* (1952), *Pickup on South Street* (1953), *Pillow Talk* (1959), and *Birdman of Alcatraz* (1962); never won despite being one of the most-nominated Best Supporting Actress losers in history. **Thelma Lou** — Andy Griffith's girlfriend on *The Andy Griffith Show*. **Thelma Schoonmaker** — Martin Scorsese's longtime film editor; three Academy Awards.
Featured throughout 20th-century film and music.
Thelma reduces to seven — the number of will.