Willa
Willa is a girl's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Resolute protector or desire and helmet.
Origin and history
Willa is a classic feminine name of Germanic origin, traditionally serving as a short form or feminine variant of William or Wilhelmina. It experienced a notable revival in early 20th-century American literature and has surged in popularity in the United States in recent years. Today, it is favored for its modern yet vintage aesthetic.
Popularity in the United States
32,824 babies in the United States have been named Willa since 1880. It ranks #789 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #390.
States where it is most popular
- NC (5.9 %)
- MO (5.2 %)
- TN (5.1 %)
- CA (5 %)
- GA (4.8 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 239 |
| 1890-1900 | 527 |
| 1900-1910 | 890 |
| 1910-1920 | 2,669 |
| 1920-1930 | 4,792 |
| 1930-1940 | 4,441 |
| 1940-1950 | 3,415 |
| 1950-1960 | 2,118 |
| 1960-1970 | 956 |
| 1970-1980 | 333 |
| 1980-1990 | 283 |
| 1990-2000 | 404 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,344 |
| 2010-2019 | 5,652 |
| 2020-2029 | 4,761 |
Famous people named Willa
- Willa Cather: Author, Novelist
- Willa Fitzgerald: Actress
- Willa Holland: Actress, Model
Nicknames
Will, Billie
Fun facts
- American author Willa Cather brought major cultural recognition to the name through her classic novels of frontier life.
- The name stems from the Germanic element 'wil', meaning desire or resolution, and 'helm', meaning protection or helmet.