Wilma Girl

Popularity: #907 · Trend: ↗ Rising

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.

WilliamWendyWalterWhitneyWillowWesley

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.

WilhelminaWillaVeraMilaLilaLenaZeldaCora

U.S. Historical Usage

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

Wilma has ranked as high as #112 nationally, which occurred in 1925, and has been most popular in Ohio, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Illinois.

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.

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 Total Births Boy Girl
2025 41 0 41
2024 37 0 37
2023 34 0 34
2022 43 0 43
2021 31 0 31
2020 38 0 38
2019 36 0 36
2018 42 0 42
2017 34 0 34
2016 23 0 23
2015 32 0 32
2014 20 0 20
2013 32 0 32
2012 25 0 25
2011 28 0 28
2010 28 0 28
2009 31 0 31
2008 27 0 27
2007 26 0 26
2006 23 0 23
2005 26 0 26
2004 29 0 29
2003 27 0 27
2002 35 0 35
2001 29 0 29
2000 32 0 32
1999 39 0 39
1998 33 0 33
1997 36 0 36
1996 32 0 32
1995 46 0 46
1994 40 0 40
1993 47 0 47
1992 45 0 45
1991 41 0 41
1990 59 0 59
1989 54 0 54
1988 51 0 51
1987 40 0 40
1986 56 0 56
1985 51 0 51
1984 54 0 54
1983 65 0 65
1982 81 0 81
1981 78 0 78
1980 79 0 79
1979 83 0 83
1978 88 0 88
1977 82 0 82
1976 102 0 102
1975 109 0 109
1974 114 0 114
1973 130 0 130
1972 142 0 142
1971 187 0 187
1970 202 0 202
1969 249 0 249
1968 224 0 224
1967 281 0 281
1966 339 0 339
1965 396 0 396
1964 458 0 458
1963 556 0 556
1962 582 0 582
1961 727 10 717
1960 724 0 724
1959 759 5 754
1958 890 0 890
1957 991 5 986
1956 1,086 0 1,086
1955 1,100 0 1,100
1954 1,309 6 1,303
1953 1,441 6 1,435
1952 1,434 11 1,423
1951 1,649 5 1,644
1950 1,662 7 1,655
1949 1,726 0 1,726
1948 1,751 9 1,742
1947 1,917 7 1,910
1946 1,925 11 1,914
1945 1,900 10 1,890
1944 2,145 17 2,128
1943 2,389 12 2,377
1942 2,476 19 2,457
1941 2,449 22 2,427
1940 2,642 21 2,621
1939 2,727 26 2,701
1938 2,898 27 2,871
1937 3,002 25 2,977
1936 3,136 13 3,123
1935 3,383 22 3,361
1934 3,337 26 3,311
1933 3,438 21 3,417
1932 3,632 21 3,611
1931 3,767 26 3,741
1930 4,102 27 4,075
1929 4,036 29 4,007
1928 3,961 24 3,937
1927 4,177 24 4,153
1926 4,075 21 4,054
1925 4,202 27 4,175
1924 4,085 19 4,066
1923 3,731 25 3,706
1922 3,548 13 3,535
1921 3,845 21 3,824
1920 3,687 17 3,670
1919 3,185 15 3,170
1918 3,319 21 3,298
1917 3,089 18 3,071
1916 2,980 18 2,962
1915 2,780 7 2,773
1914 1,795 7 1,788
1913 1,484 15 1,469
1912 1,247 6 1,241
1911 914 0 914
1910 698 0 698
1909 650 5 645
1908 635 5 630
1907 525 0 525
1906 408 0 408
1905 357 0 357
1904 352 0 352
1903 293 0 293
1902 272 0 272
1901 245 0 245
1900 285 0 285
1899 235 0 235
1898 159 0 159
1897 131 0 131
1896 105 0 105
1895 99 0 99
1894 90 0 90
1893 81 0 81
1892 86 0 86
1891 59 0 59
1890 64 0 64
1889 40 0 40
1888 37 0 37
1887 22 0 22
1886 26 0 26
1885 23 0 23
1884 17 0 17
1883 18 0 18
1882 14 0 14
1881 10 0 10
1880 5 0 5

Top States for Wilma (2022)

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
MI 5
100%