Willma Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: WIL-ma /ˈwɪl.mə/
Origin: English; German
Meaning: Resolute protector; will helmet
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Willma is derived from the Germanic name Wilhelm, which is composed of the elements 'wil' meaning 'will' or 'desire' and 'helm' meaning 'helmet' or 'protection.' The name Wilhelm evolved into various forms across different languages, including the Old High German 'Willahelm,' which later transitioned into the Old French 'Guillaume.' This name was introduced into England following the Norman Conquest of 1066, where it became anglicized as William. The feminine form, Willma, likely emerged as a derivative in the 19th century, reflecting a trend of creating feminine variants of traditionally masculine names.
Throughout history, the name William has been borne by numerous notable figures, including William the Conqueror, the first Norman King of England, who reigned from 1066 to 1087, and William Shakespeare, the renowned playwright of the late 16th and early 17th centuries. The name has also appeared in various religious texts, including the King James Bible, which was published in 1611 and has had a significant influence on English literature and language.
While Willma itself does not have direct biblical references, its roots in Wilhelm connect it to a broader historical narrative. Culturally, names derived from Wilhelm have often been associated with strength and leadership, reflecting the protective connotation of the element 'helm.' The name has been embraced in various forms across cultures, with diminutives such as Willa or Wilma gaining traction in different contexts.
Willma, while less common, carries the same historical weight and cultural significance, embodying the enduring legacy of its Germanic roots.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Willma, 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 Willma. 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 Willma was first seen in the United States in 1898.
Willma has ranked as high as #2767 nationally, which occurred in 1918, and has been most popular in .
In the past 5 years the name Willma has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Willma 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 Willma 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 Willma.
| Year | Total Births | Girl |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 6 | 6 |
| 1962 | 7 | 7 |
| 1961 | 5 | 5 |
| 1959 | 5 | 5 |
| 1958 | 7 | 7 |
| 1956 | 5 | 5 |
| 1955 | 5 | 5 |
| 1954 | 9 | 9 |
| 1953 | 7 | 7 |
| 1952 | 7 | 7 |
| 1951 | 12 | 12 |
| 1950 | 12 | 12 |
| 1949 | 15 | 15 |
| 1948 | 9 | 9 |
| 1947 | 10 | 10 |
| 1946 | 10 | 10 |
| 1945 | 7 | 7 |
| 1944 | 7 | 7 |
| 1943 | 13 | 13 |
| 1942 | 12 | 12 |
| 1941 | 9 | 9 |
| 1940 | 13 | 13 |
| 1939 | 16 | 16 |
| 1938 | 13 | 13 |
| 1937 | 20 | 20 |
| 1936 | 11 | 11 |
| 1935 | 11 | 11 |
| 1934 | 18 | 18 |
| 1933 | 24 | 24 |
| 1932 | 13 | 13 |
| 1931 | 22 | 22 |
| 1930 | 17 | 17 |
| 1929 | 9 | 9 |
| 1928 | 13 | 13 |
| 1927 | 20 | 20 |
| 1926 | 12 | 12 |
| 1925 | 9 | 9 |
| 1924 | 25 | 25 |
| 1923 | 16 | 16 |
| 1922 | 17 | 17 |
| 1921 | 15 | 15 |
| 1920 | 15 | 15 |
| 1919 | 22 | 22 |
| 1918 | 27 | 27 |
| 1917 | 18 | 18 |
| 1916 | 17 | 17 |
| 1915 | 17 | 17 |
| 1914 | 9 | 9 |
| 1913 | 8 | 8 |
| 1912 | 12 | 12 |
| 1911 | 5 | 5 |
| 1910 | 5 | 5 |
| 1908 | 7 | 7 |
| 1906 | 6 | 6 |
| 1902 | 7 | 7 |
| 1898 | 5 | 5 |
Top States for Willma
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.
No state data available for this year.