Wilhemina Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: wil-HEM-ee-nah //wɪlˈhɛmɪnə//
Origin: German; Dutch
Meaning: German: will; Dutch: helmet, protection
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Wilhelmina is of Germanic origin, derived from the elements 'wil' meaning 'will' or 'desire' and 'helm' meaning 'helmet' or 'protection.' This compound formation suggests a meaning akin to 'resolute protector.' The name has its roots in the Old High German form 'Willahelm,' which evolved into various forms across different languages, including the Dutch 'Wilhelmina.' The name was introduced into English through the influence of Dutch culture and the prominence of the House of Orange, particularly during the 17th century. Historically, Wilhelmina gained significant recognition through notable figures such as Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, who reigned from 1890 to 1948.
Her leadership during World War II and her role in the Dutch royal family helped solidify the name's association with strength and resilience. Additionally, the name appears in various literary and artistic works, contributing to its cultural significance.
The name was also borne by several saints and noblewomen throughout history, further embedding it in European heritage. Culturally, Wilhelmina has been associated with qualities of leadership and protection, resonating with the meanings of its components.
The name has also inspired various diminutive forms, such as Willa or Mina, which have been used affectionately in different contexts. The enduring appeal of Wilhelmina can be attributed to its strong historical roots and the positive connotations associated with its meaning, making it a name that has persisted through centuries.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Wilhemina, 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 Wilhemina. 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 Wilhemina was first seen in the United States in 1886.
Wilhemina has ranked as high as #1111 nationally, which occurred in 1960, and has been most popular in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia.
In the past 5 years the name Wilhemina has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Wilhemina 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 Wilhemina was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Wilhemina (1961)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| NC | 8 |
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 Wilhemina.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 1985 | 5 |
| 1983 | 6 |
| 1981 | 9 |
| 1980 | 6 |
| 1979 | 5 |
| 1978 | 7 |
| 1976 | 5 |
| 1975 | 6 |
| 1974 | 6 |
| 1972 | 6 |
| 1971 | 9 |
| 1970 | 5 |
| 1968 | 13 |
| 1967 | 9 |
| 1966 | 7 |
| 1965 | 10 |
| 1964 | 12 |
| 1963 | 17 |
| 1962 | 19 |
| 1961 | 35 |
| 1960 | 35 |
| 1959 | 31 |
| 1958 | 23 |
| 1957 | 24 |
| 1956 | 23 |
| 1955 | 28 |
| 1954 | 17 |
| 1953 | 21 |
| 1952 | 21 |
| 1951 | 17 |
| 1950 | 21 |
| 1949 | 11 |
| 1948 | 6 |
| 1947 | 6 |
| 1946 | 10 |
| 1945 | 9 |
| 1944 | 8 |
| 1943 | 11 |
| 1942 | 8 |
| 1941 | 6 |
| 1940 | 10 |
| 1939 | 5 |
| 1938 | 10 |
| 1936 | 11 |
| 1934 | 9 |
| 1933 | 9 |
| 1932 | 8 |
| 1931 | 6 |
| 1930 | 11 |
| 1929 | 13 |
| 1928 | 17 |
| 1927 | 12 |
| 1926 | 13 |
| 1925 | 15 |
| 1924 | 16 |
| 1923 | 13 |
| 1922 | 17 |
| 1921 | 19 |
| 1920 | 16 |
| 1919 | 14 |
| 1918 | 17 |
| 1917 | 11 |
| 1916 | 10 |
| 1915 | 9 |
| 1914 | 16 |
| 1913 | 11 |
| 1912 | 7 |
| 1911 | 8 |
| 1910 | 7 |
| 1909 | 8 |
| 1907 | 6 |
| 1904 | 6 |
| 1898 | 5 |
| 1886 | 6 |