Velma is a 19th-century American invented name, possibly a variant of Wilma or Selma — from the Old Germanic *wil* ("determined will") + *helm* ("protection"). **A top-100 US baby name from 1907 to 1936, peaking at #71 in 1916**. **Velma Dinkley** — **the brainy, glasses-wearing mystery-solver of Hanna-Barbera's *Scooby-Doo* franchise (1969-present); one of the most-recognizable American cartoon characters of all time; voiced originally by Nicole Jaffe and most-recently by Mindy Cohn and Kate Micucci; her catchphrase "Jinkies!" entered American vernacular**. **HBO Max's *Velma* (2023-2024) was the streaming service's most-watched original animated series in its debut week**. **Velma Kelly** — one of the two leads of Bob Fosse's musical *Chicago* (1975 stage, 2002 film); Catherine Zeta-Jones won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (2003) for her portrayal; *Chicago* won six Academy Awards including Best Picture, becoming the first musical to win Best Picture in 34 years (since *Oliver!*, 1968). **Velma Bronn Johnston** (1912-1977) — "Wild Horse Annie"; American activist whose campaign led to the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act protecting US wild mustangs. **Velma Pollard** — Jamaican poet. **Velma Demerson** — Canadian activist.
Featured throughout American animation and musical theatre.
Velma reduces to eight — the number of "Jinkies!"