Wilda Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: WIL-duh /ˈwɪldə/
Origin: German; English
Meaning: German: wild; English: brave
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Wilda has its roots in Old English, derived from the word "wild," which means "untamed" or "savage." This etymology reflects a connection to nature and the wilderness, suggesting a spirit of independence and freedom. The transition into modern English likely occurred through the influence of various Germanic languages, where similar forms can be found.
The name has also been associated with the Old High German word "wild," which carries the same meaning, further solidifying its linguistic heritage. Historically, the name Wilda does not have prominent figures or events directly associated with it, unlike more common names.
However, it gained some recognition in the 19th century, particularly in the United States, where names reflecting nature and wildness became more popular. The romanticism of the wilderness during this period may have contributed to the name's appeal, as it resonated with the ideals of exploration and the untamed spirit of the American frontier.
Culturally, Wilda embodies themes of nature and individuality, often associated with a strong, free-spirited character. This connection to the wild has made it a symbol of strength and resilience.
While diminutive forms such as "Willy" or "Wildie" may exist, they are less commonly noted in historical texts. Overall, the name Wilda carries with it a sense of adventure and a deep-rooted connection to the natural world, reflecting the values and sentiments of the eras in which it has appeared.
Famous people named Wilda
In this section, you will find notable people named Wilda. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Wilda who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Wilda who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Wilda B. Smith is a botanist best known for her work on the flora of the southeastern United States.
Wilda G. McMahon is a writer best known for her contributions to children's literature.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Wilda, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Wilda. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Wilda was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Wilda has ranked as high as #606 nationally, which occurred in 1926, and has been most popular in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Louisiana, and Texas.
In the past 5 years the name Wilda has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Wilda is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Wilda was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Wilda.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2015 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 2001 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1996 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1995 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1994 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1993 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1992 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1991 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1990 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1989 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1988 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1987 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1986 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1985 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1984 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1983 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1982 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| 1981 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1980 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1979 | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| 1978 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1977 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1976 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 1975 | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| 1974 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1973 | 26 | 0 | 26 |
| 1972 | 21 | 0 | 21 |
| 1971 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 1970 | 19 | 0 | 19 |
| 1969 | 23 | 0 | 23 |
| 1968 | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| 1967 | 33 | 0 | 33 |
| 1966 | 36 | 0 | 36 |
| 1965 | 59 | 0 | 59 |
| 1964 | 37 | 0 | 37 |
| 1963 | 53 | 0 | 53 |
| 1962 | 68 | 0 | 68 |
| 1961 | 42 | 0 | 42 |
| 1960 | 63 | 0 | 63 |
| 1959 | 61 | 0 | 61 |
| 1958 | 87 | 0 | 87 |
| 1957 | 96 | 0 | 96 |
| 1956 | 94 | 0 | 94 |
| 1955 | 90 | 0 | 90 |
| 1954 | 98 | 0 | 98 |
| 1953 | 124 | 0 | 124 |
| 1952 | 107 | 0 | 107 |
| 1951 | 118 | 0 | 118 |
| 1950 | 118 | 0 | 118 |
| 1949 | 152 | 0 | 152 |
| 1948 | 143 | 0 | 143 |
| 1947 | 147 | 0 | 147 |
| 1946 | 156 | 0 | 156 |
| 1945 | 144 | 0 | 144 |
| 1944 | 177 | 0 | 177 |
| 1943 | 182 | 0 | 182 |
| 1942 | 208 | 0 | 208 |
| 1941 | 185 | 0 | 185 |
| 1940 | 205 | 0 | 205 |
| 1939 | 216 | 0 | 216 |
| 1938 | 215 | 5 | 210 |
| 1937 | 230 | 0 | 230 |
| 1936 | 240 | 0 | 240 |
| 1935 | 257 | 0 | 257 |
| 1934 | 260 | 5 | 255 |
| 1933 | 288 | 0 | 288 |
| 1932 | 307 | 0 | 307 |
| 1931 | 276 | 0 | 276 |
| 1930 | 340 | 0 | 340 |
| 1929 | 348 | 0 | 348 |
| 1928 | 361 | 0 | 361 |
| 1927 | 389 | 0 | 389 |
| 1926 | 411 | 0 | 411 |
| 1925 | 393 | 0 | 393 |
| 1924 | 362 | 0 | 362 |
| 1923 | 350 | 0 | 350 |
| 1922 | 371 | 0 | 371 |
| 1921 | 327 | 0 | 327 |
| 1920 | 331 | 0 | 331 |
| 1919 | 310 | 0 | 310 |
| 1918 | 332 | 0 | 332 |
| 1917 | 307 | 5 | 302 |
| 1916 | 283 | 0 | 283 |
| 1915 | 261 | 0 | 261 |
| 1914 | 177 | 0 | 177 |
| 1913 | 133 | 0 | 133 |
| 1912 | 137 | 0 | 137 |
| 1911 | 89 | 0 | 89 |
| 1910 | 77 | 0 | 77 |
| 1909 | 53 | 0 | 53 |
| 1908 | 66 | 0 | 66 |
| 1907 | 58 | 0 | 58 |
| 1906 | 48 | 0 | 48 |
| 1905 | 64 | 0 | 64 |
| 1904 | 60 | 0 | 60 |
| 1903 | 49 | 0 | 49 |
| 1902 | 50 | 0 | 50 |
| 1901 | 38 | 0 | 38 |
| 1900 | 48 | 0 | 48 |
| 1899 | 33 | 0 | 33 |
| 1898 | 49 | 0 | 49 |
| 1897 | 38 | 0 | 38 |
| 1896 | 37 | 0 | 37 |
| 1895 | 31 | 0 | 31 |
| 1894 | 35 | 0 | 35 |
| 1893 | 22 | 0 | 22 |
| 1892 | 31 | 0 | 31 |
| 1891 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 1890 | 19 | 0 | 19 |
| 1889 | 25 | 0 | 25 |
| 1888 | 24 | 0 | 24 |
| 1887 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 1886 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 1885 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1884 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1883 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1882 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1880 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
Top States for Wilda (1990)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| FL | 5 |