Wilhelmena Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: wil-hel-MEE-nah //ˌwɪl.hɛlˈmeɪ.nə//
Origin: German; Dutch
Meaning: German: resolute protector; Dutch: will helmet
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Wilhelmena is of Germanic origin, derived from the elements "wil" meaning "will" or "desire" and "helm" meaning "helmet" or "protection." This name can be traced back to the Old High German form "Willahelm," which evolved into various forms across different languages. The name made its way into English through the Norman conquest of England in the 11th century, where it was adapted into forms such as "William" for males and "Wilhelmina" for females, with the latter being a feminine diminutive that gained popularity in various Germanic-speaking regions.
Historically, the name Wilhelmina has notable associations, particularly in the context of European royalty. One of the most prominent figures was Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, who reigned from 1890 to 1948.
Her leadership during World War II and her efforts in rebuilding the Netherlands post-war contributed to the name's historical significance. Additionally, the name appears in various cultural texts and translations, including the King James Bible, which reflects the broader influence of Germanic names in Christian contexts, particularly in the 17th century.
Culturally, the name Wilhelmena carries connotations of strength and leadership, resonating with the protective qualities inherent in its etymological roots. The name has been embraced in various forms across different cultures, often symbolizing resilience and determination.
The diminutive form "Willa" is also noted, reflecting a softer, more affectionate variant of the name. Overall, Wilhelmena embodies a rich tapestry of linguistic evolution and historical significance, marking its place in the lineage of names that convey strength and nobility.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Wilhelmena, 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 Wilhelmena. 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 Wilhelmena was first seen in the United States in 1896.
Wilhelmena has ranked as high as #843 nationally, which occurred in 1919, and has been most popular in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.
In the past 5 years the name Wilhelmena has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Wilhelmena 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 Wilhelmena was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Wilhelmena (1951)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| SC | 5 |
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 Wilhelmena.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 1963 | 6 |
| 1961 | 5 |
| 1959 | 7 |
| 1958 | 10 |
| 1956 | 8 |
| 1955 | 6 |
| 1954 | 5 |
| 1953 | 7 |
| 1952 | 13 |
| 1951 | 12 |
| 1950 | 16 |
| 1949 | 13 |
| 1948 | 19 |
| 1947 | 15 |
| 1946 | 16 |
| 1945 | 13 |
| 1944 | 14 |
| 1943 | 12 |
| 1942 | 11 |
| 1941 | 11 |
| 1940 | 19 |
| 1939 | 17 |
| 1938 | 10 |
| 1937 | 14 |
| 1936 | 14 |
| 1935 | 19 |
| 1934 | 20 |
| 1933 | 12 |
| 1932 | 17 |
| 1931 | 13 |
| 1930 | 26 |
| 1929 | 24 |
| 1928 | 22 |
| 1927 | 15 |
| 1926 | 15 |
| 1925 | 19 |
| 1924 | 23 |
| 1923 | 23 |
| 1922 | 10 |
| 1921 | 22 |
| 1920 | 21 |
| 1919 | 26 |
| 1918 | 15 |
| 1917 | 15 |
| 1916 | 24 |
| 1915 | 13 |
| 1914 | 17 |
| 1913 | 15 |
| 1912 | 13 |
| 1911 | 5 |
| 1910 | 8 |
| 1907 | 5 |
| 1905 | 6 |
| 1904 | 7 |
| 1896 | 6 |