Willa Girl

Popularity: #388 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: WIL-uh //ˈwɪlə//

Origin: German; English

Meaning: German: resolute protector; English: will

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Willa has its roots in the Germanic language, derived from the Old High German name "Willa," which means "desire" or "will." This name is a feminine form of the masculine name "Wilhelm," which combines the elements "wil" (will) and "helm" (helmet or protection). The transition of Willa into English occurred through the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, where it was introduced into England alongside other Germanic names, becoming more widely used in the Middle Ages.

Historically, the name Willa has been associated with various notable figures, including Willa of Tuscany, a powerful noblewoman in the 10th century who played a significant role in the politics of her time. Additionally, the name appears in literary contexts, such as in the works of authors like Willa Cather, an influential American novelist of the early 20th century, who explored themes of pioneer life and the American experience.

The name has also been linked to various saints and religious figures, contributing to its historical significance. Culturally, Willa carries connotations of strength and determination, reflecting the meanings of its linguistic roots.

The name has been embraced in various forms and adaptations across cultures, with diminutives such as "Willie" or "Willy" emerging in different contexts. Its enduring presence in literature and history underscores its resonance with themes of willfulness and empowerment, making it a name of notable significance throughout the centuries.

Famous people named Willa

In this section, you will find notable people named Willa. 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 Willa who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Willa 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.

Willa Cather is an author best known for My Ántonia, O Pioneers!, and The Song of the Lark.

Willa Ford is a singer and actress best known for her single I Wanna Be Bad and her role in the film Friday Night Lights.

Fictional characters named Willa

The following list of fictional characters named Willa is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Willa is a fictional character from the novel Willa Cather's My Ántonia. She is a representation of the pioneering spirit and resilience of women in the American frontier.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Willa, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

WillowLilaEllaMilaClaraNora

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Willa. 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.

MillaZillaTillaCillaGildaHildaLilaNinaCeliaStella

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Willa was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Willa has ranked as high as #724 nationally, which occurred in 2019, and has been most popular in North Carolina, Missouri, Tennessee, California, and Georgia.

In the past 5 years the name Willa has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Willa 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 Willa 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 Willa.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 742 0 742
2024 733 0 733
2023 721 0 721
2022 791 0 791
2021 887 0 887
2020 887 0 887
2019 889 0 889
2018 813 0 813
2017 699 0 699
2016 689 0 689
2015 675 0 675
2014 562 0 562
2013 406 0 406
2012 389 0 389
2011 261 0 261
2010 269 0 269
2009 252 0 252
2008 247 0 247
2007 201 0 201
2006 116 0 116
2005 121 0 121
2004 99 0 99
2003 96 0 96
2002 97 0 97
2001 59 0 59
2000 56 0 56
1999 64 0 64
1998 46 0 46
1997 33 0 33
1996 35 0 35
1995 49 0 49
1994 48 0 48
1993 41 0 41
1992 31 0 31
1991 30 0 30
1990 27 0 27
1989 32 0 32
1988 32 0 32
1987 24 0 24
1986 30 0 30
1985 24 0 24
1984 37 0 37
1983 23 0 23
1982 27 0 27
1981 30 0 30
1980 24 0 24
1979 34 0 34
1978 32 0 32
1977 27 0 27
1976 24 0 24
1975 28 0 28
1974 27 0 27
1973 29 0 29
1972 34 0 34
1971 48 0 48
1970 50 0 50
1969 44 0 44
1968 41 0 41
1967 74 0 74
1966 76 0 76
1965 92 0 92
1964 109 0 109
1963 98 0 98
1962 135 0 135
1961 138 0 138
1960 149 0 149
1959 139 0 139
1958 163 0 163
1957 169 0 169
1956 185 0 185
1955 237 0 237
1954 226 0 226
1953 229 0 229
1952 276 0 276
1951 238 0 238
1950 256 0 256
1949 293 0 293
1948 244 0 244
1947 303 0 303
1946 300 0 300
1945 344 0 344
1944 371 0 371
1943 364 0 364
1942 421 0 421
1941 400 0 400
1940 375 0 375
1939 375 0 375
1938 368 0 368
1937 411 6 405
1936 454 0 454
1935 414 0 414
1934 486 0 486
1933 468 6 462
1932 520 5 515
1931 450 0 450
1930 512 0 512
1929 501 7 494
1928 500 0 500
1927 566 0 566
1926 536 0 536
1925 521 0 521
1924 471 0 471
1923 457 0 457
1922 416 0 416
1921 407 0 407
1920 424 0 424
1919 382 0 382
1918 425 0 425
1917 336 0 336
1916 316 0 316
1915 292 0 292
1914 251 0 251
1913 208 0 208
1912 180 0 180
1911 145 0 145
1910 134 0 134
1909 123 0 123
1908 99 0 99
1907 106 0 106
1906 97 0 97
1905 92 0 92
1904 91 0 91
1903 79 0 79
1902 64 0 64
1901 55 0 55
1900 84 0 84
1899 61 0 61
1898 60 0 60
1897 58 0 58
1896 67 0 67
1895 53 0 53
1894 43 0 43
1893 48 0 48
1892 51 0 51
1891 35 0 35
1890 51 0 51
1889 40 0 40
1888 39 0 39
1887 31 0 31
1886 31 0 31
1885 25 0 25
1884 16 0 16
1883 20 0 20
1882 15 0 15
1881 10 0 10
1880 12 0 12

Top States for Willa (2024)

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
CA 46
7%
TX 45
6%
OH 36
5%
MN 35
5%
CO 28
4%
NC 28
4%
TN 27
4%
NY 25
4%
WI 25
4%
FL 24
3%
GA 23
3%
MI 23
3%
MO 20
3%
KY 19
3%
WA 18
3%
PA 18
3%
NE 17
2%
IN 17
2%
VA 17
2%
AL 15
2%
WV 15
2%
MA 15
2%
IA 14
2%
NJ 13
2%
IL 13
2%
UT 13
2%
OK 13
2%
MD 12
2%
AZ 10
1%
MS 10
1%
KS 9
1%
CT 9
1%
MT 8
1%
DC 8
1%
OR 7
1%
LA 7
1%
SC 7
1%
ME 6
1%
ND 6
1%
AR 5
1%