Holding steady.
Popularity of Willma since 1898
Babies named Willma per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1918, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Willma's real moment was 1902.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 5 |
| 1900s | 20 |
| 1910s | 140 |
| 1920s | 151 |
| 1930s | 165 |
| 1940s | 105 |
| 1950s | 69 |
| 1960s | 18 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Willma records its peak usage in 1902, the year it ranked highest among Social Security records. Despite its first recorded appearance in 1898, the name has never broken into widespread popularity; in the most recent year with data (2025), it did not rank in the top 1000, and the one-in-N birth rate is not available due to its rarity. The trajectory has remained stable at very low levels, and no state records show a notable concentration of the name. Willma is typically viewed as a variant of Wilma, a name with Germanic origins tied to the concept of steadfast protection. Its infrequent use over the past century suggests it remains a niche choice.
Willma is a feminine variant of Wilma, which itself is a short form of Wilhelmine, the feminine form of Wilhelm. Wilhelm is composed of the Old High German elements 'willio' (will, desire) and 'helm' (helmet, protection), thus meaning 'resolute protection'. The name came into occasional English use in the late 19th century, though it has always remained rare.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Willie
Variants: Wilma
Sibling names for Willma
Names that share Willma's style, for a brother or sister.
