Willma: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	5	1	–	#1,972
1900s	20	2	+300%	#1,591
1910s	140	14	+600%	#1,565
1920s	151	15	+8%	#1,769
1930s	165	17	+9%	#1,549
1940s	105	11	-36%	#2,420
1950s	69	7	-34%	#3,231
1960s	18	2	-74%	#5,850
1970s	–	–	–	–
1980s	–	–	–	–
1990s	–	–	–	–
2000s	–	–	–	–
2010s	–	–	–	–
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

#1,972

1900s

+300%

#1,591

1910s

140

+600%

#1,565

1920s

151

+8%

#1,769

1930s

165

+9%

#1,549

1940s

105

-36%

#2,420

1950s

-34%

#3,231

1960s

-74%

#5,850

1970s

–

1980s

–

1990s

–

2000s

–

2010s

–

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Willma

Willma is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1898, 673 American babies have been named Willma. Its peak came in 1918, when 27 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1910s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Willma stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Willma?

The median living Willma is about 78 years old; half are between 72 and 86. An estimated 200 people named Willma are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Willma year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	–	–
2024	–	–
2023	–	–
2022	–	–
2021	–	–
2020	–	–
2019	–	–
2018	–	–
2017	–	–
2016	–	–
2015	–	–
2014	–	–
2013	–	–
2012	–	–
2011	–	–
2010	–	–
2009	–	–
2008	–	–
2007	–	–
2006	–	–
2005	–	–
2004	–	–
2003	–	–
2002	–	–
2001	–	–
2000	–	–
1995	–	–
1990	–	–
1985	–	–
1980	–	–
1975	–	–
1970	–	–
1965	6	#6,526
1960	–	–
1955	5	#6,715
1950	12	#3,231
1945	7	#4,017
1940	13	#2,420
1935	11	#2,726
1930	17	#2,107
1925	9	#3,660
1920	15	#2,460
1915	17	#1,963
1910	5	#2,778
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Willma, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Willma?

The median living Willma is about 78 years old. Half of all living Willmas are between 72 and 86 years old.

How many people named Willma are alive today?

An estimated 200 people named Willma are alive in the United States, based on 673 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Willma mean?

Spelling variant of Wilma.

How popular is the name Willma in 2025?

Willma did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Willma?

673 babies have been named Willma in the United States since 1898, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Willma most popular?

Willma peaked in 1918, when 27 newborns received the name.

Is Willma a boy or girl name?

Willma is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Willma rising or falling?

Willma has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Willma

Willma popularity over time

The story of Willma

How old are people named Willma?

Willma year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Willma