Wilma Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: WIL-muh //ˈwɪl.mə//
Origin: German; English
Meaning: German: resolute protector; English: willful
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Wilma has its roots in the Germanic elements "wil" meaning "will" or "desire" and "helm" meaning "helmet" or "protection." This etymological combination suggests a meaning akin to "resolute protector." The name emerged in various forms across Germanic languages, with its earliest recorded instances appearing in Old High German as "Wilhelmina," a feminine diminutive of the masculine name Wilhelm. The transition into English occurred through the Norman influence in the 11th century, where the name was adapted and anglicized, leading to its current form.
Historically, Wilma gained recognition through notable figures, particularly in the 19th and 20th centuries. The name is often associated with the longer form Wilhelmina, which was borne by several queens and princesses in Europe, including Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, who reigned from 1890 to 1948.
Her reign was marked by significant events, including both World Wars, and she became a symbol of Dutch resilience. The name Wilma itself, while less frequently used in royal contexts, has been popularized in literature and media, contributing to its cultural resonance.
Culturally, the name Wilma has been embraced in various artistic expressions, notably in the realm of animation and television. One of the most recognizable uses of the name is in the character Wilma Flintstone from the animated television series "The Flintstones," which first aired in the 1960s.
This character, representing a modern Stone Age woman, has contributed to the name's association with strength and familial loyalty. The diminutive form "Willy" has also been used affectionately in some contexts, though it is less common.
Overall, the name Wilma carries connotations of strength and protection, rooted in its etymological origins.
Famous people named Wilma
In this section, you will find notable people named Wilma. 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 Wilma who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Wilma 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.
Wilma Rudolph is an athlete best known for winning three gold medals at the 1960 Rome Olympics.
Wilma Flintstone is a fictional character best known as the wife of Fred Flintstone in The Flintstones.
Wilma Mankiller is a Native American activist best known for being the first female chief of the Cherokee Nation.
Wilma Lee Cooper is a country music singer best known for her work in the Grand Ole Opry and her duet with Stoney Cooper.
Fictional characters named Wilma
The following list of fictional characters named Wilma 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.
Wilma Flintstone is a fictional character from the animated television series The Flintstones. She is the wife of Fred Flintstone and is known for her strong personality and supportive role in the family.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Wilma, 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 Wilma. 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 Wilma was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Wilma has ranked as high as #111 nationally, which occurred in 1925, and has been most popular in Ohio, Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois, and Indiana.
In the past 5 years the name Wilma has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Wilma 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 Wilma was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Wilma (2021)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| OH | 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 Wilma.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 36 |
| 2023 | 33 |
| 2022 | 43 |
| 2021 | 31 |
| 2020 | 38 |
| 2019 | 36 |
| 2018 | 42 |
| 2017 | 34 |
| 2016 | 23 |
| 2015 | 32 |
| 2014 | 20 |
| 2013 | 32 |
| 2012 | 25 |
| 2011 | 28 |
| 2010 | 28 |
| 2009 | 31 |
| 2008 | 27 |
| 2007 | 26 |
| 2006 | 23 |
| 2005 | 26 |
| 2004 | 29 |
| 2003 | 26 |
| 2002 | 34 |
| 2001 | 29 |
| 2000 | 32 |
| 1999 | 39 |
| 1998 | 33 |
| 1997 | 36 |
| 1996 | 32 |
| 1995 | 46 |
| 1994 | 40 |
| 1993 | 47 |
| 1992 | 45 |
| 1991 | 41 |
| 1990 | 59 |
| 1989 | 54 |
| 1988 | 51 |
| 1987 | 40 |
| 1986 | 56 |
| 1985 | 51 |
| 1984 | 54 |
| 1983 | 65 |
| 1982 | 81 |
| 1981 | 78 |
| 1980 | 79 |
| 1979 | 83 |
| 1978 | 88 |
| 1977 | 82 |
| 1976 | 102 |
| 1975 | 109 |
| 1974 | 114 |
| 1973 | 130 |
| 1972 | 142 |
| 1971 | 187 |
| 1970 | 202 |
| 1969 | 249 |
| 1968 | 224 |
| 1967 | 281 |
| 1966 | 339 |
| 1965 | 395 |
| 1964 | 458 |
| 1963 | 555 |
| 1962 | 583 |
| 1961 | 717 |
| 1960 | 724 |
| 1959 | 754 |
| 1958 | 890 |
| 1957 | 986 |
| 1956 | 1,086 |
| 1955 | 1,101 |
| 1954 | 1,303 |
| 1953 | 1,435 |
| 1952 | 1,423 |
| 1951 | 1,645 |
| 1950 | 1,655 |
| 1949 | 1,726 |
| 1948 | 1,742 |
| 1947 | 1,910 |
| 1946 | 1,914 |
| 1945 | 1,890 |
| 1944 | 2,128 |
| 1943 | 2,377 |
| 1942 | 2,457 |
| 1941 | 2,427 |
| 1940 | 2,621 |
| 1939 | 2,701 |
| 1938 | 2,871 |
| 1937 | 2,977 |
| 1936 | 3,123 |
| 1935 | 3,361 |
| 1934 | 3,311 |
| 1933 | 3,417 |
| 1932 | 3,611 |
| 1931 | 3,741 |
| 1930 | 4,074 |
| 1929 | 4,007 |
| 1928 | 3,937 |
| 1927 | 4,153 |
| 1926 | 4,054 |
| 1925 | 4,175 |
| 1924 | 4,066 |
| 1923 | 3,706 |
| 1922 | 3,535 |
| 1921 | 3,824 |
| 1920 | 3,670 |
| 1919 | 3,170 |
| 1918 | 3,298 |
| 1917 | 3,071 |
| 1916 | 2,962 |
| 1915 | 2,773 |
| 1914 | 1,788 |
| 1913 | 1,469 |
| 1912 | 1,241 |
| 1911 | 914 |
| 1910 | 698 |
| 1909 | 645 |
| 1908 | 630 |
| 1907 | 525 |
| 1906 | 408 |
| 1905 | 357 |
| 1904 | 352 |
| 1903 | 293 |
| 1902 | 272 |
| 1901 | 245 |
| 1900 | 285 |
| 1899 | 235 |
| 1898 | 159 |
| 1897 | 131 |
| 1896 | 105 |
| 1895 | 99 |
| 1894 | 90 |
| 1893 | 81 |
| 1892 | 86 |
| 1891 | 59 |
| 1890 | 64 |
| 1889 | 40 |
| 1888 | 37 |
| 1887 | 22 |
| 1886 | 26 |
| 1885 | 23 |
| 1884 | 17 |
| 1883 | 18 |
| 1882 | 14 |
| 1881 | 10 |
| 1880 | 5 |