Willa
A girls’ name of Old German origin, meaning resolute protector; a form of Wilhelmina.
How Willa has moved
View as table
| Year | US rank |
|---|---|
| 2015 | #481 |
| 2016 | #461 |
| 2017 | #453 |
| 2018 | #383 |
| 2019 | #356 |
| 2020 | #351 |
| 2021 | #351 |
| 2022 | #396 |
| 2023 | #428 |
| 2024 | #423 |
| 2025 | #422 |
Willa by the numbers
In 2025, 52 babies in England and Wales were named Willa. In the US, 691 were, though that figure is from 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
For the size of the two countries, it is given noticeably more often in the US than in England and Wales.
Its best year in America so far is the most recent one on record, which means it was still climbing when the records end.
At its height, in 1930, about 1 in 2,300 American girls born that year was called Willa.
Other names that come from Wilhelmina
Like Willa, each of these traces back to Wilhelmina: a form of it, a name built from it, or a son or daughter of it. Not always the same sex.
- Wilhelminaresolute protector; feminine form of Wilhelm121 in the US (2017)
- Minnieresolute protector; a diminutive of Wilhelmina88 in England and Wales (2025)
- Minkawill; resolute protector; a form of Wilhelmina21 in the US (2017)
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Willa. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
Sounds like Willa
Names that are said the same way as Willa, however they are written. Sounding alike does not mean they share a history.
- Wyla5 in the US (2017)
Other names that mean a protector
Like Willa, each of these has a protector in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Parkerkeeper of the park; park ranger5,833 in the US (2017)
- Alexadefender of men; form of Alexandra3,888 in the US (2017)
- Alexisdefender, helper2,847 in the US (2017)
- Alexdefender, helper; short form of Alexander or Alexis2,766 in the US (2017)
- Alexandradefender of mankind2,592 in the US (2017)
- Alexandriadefender of mankind; a form of Alexander1,238 in the US (2017)
Other names that mean strength
Like Willa, each of these has strength in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Aubreyelf ruler; noble strength6,029 in the US (2017)
- Audreynoble strength4,820 in the US (2017)
- GabriellaGod is my strength; form of Gabriel3,862 in the US (2017)
- Emersonson of Emery, brave power3,275 in the US (2017)
- Valentinastrong, healthy3,027 in the US (2017)
- Emerybrave, powerful; industrious ruler2,983 in the US (2017)
Names about as common as Willa
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