Willa

“Variant of Wilhelmina — Will and protection” — Germanic origin

Girl's name · #422 in the US (2025) · Comeback

Willa was #274 in 1932, slipped to #3906 by 1990, and has climbed back to #422 today. About 33,000 girls have carried it since 1880. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records.

Around the world: about 1 in 460 girls in New Zealand (2025) · about 1 in 2,200 girls in Canada (2024) · about 1 in 4,900 girls in England & Wales (2025).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 44 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Willas

Willa Cather — American writer (1873–1947)
Willa Holland — American actress
Willa Fitzgerald — American actress (born 1991)
Willa Ford — American actor, model, singer, composer, dancer and musician
Willa Brown — American pilot and aviation educator (1906-1992)

In stories & tradition

Willa — ThunderCats

What Willas become

Among 45 notable people named Willa:

No single standout — notable Willas spread across many fields.

Similar names: Elinor · Winnie · Nila · Hattie · Della · Luella

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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