Baby Name Popularity Profile

Willa

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Willa.

✦ Resolute protector 🌍 German traditional
National Rank (2025) #422
All-Time Peak Rank #274 Achieved 1932
Total U.S. Births 32,824 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 0.0% Boy / 100.0% Girl Female Archetype
First Recorded 1880 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 2010s 889 births in 2019
πŸ’‘ The Willa Vibe: Considered a Modern Trend. A contemporary choice reflecting current cultural naming rhythms and popularity brackets.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning Resolute protector
Language Origin German
Origin Type single
Feminine form of William, derived from Germanic elements *wil* (will, desire) and *helm* (helmet, protection).
Common Nicknames
Will
Pronunciation: WIL-Ι™
Themes & Categories
Etymology confidence: High

πŸ“– The Story Behind Willa

According to SSA data, Willa achieved its highest historical rank of #274 in 1932. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 2019 with 889 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have increased by 9.9%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 146 consecutive years.

πŸ“Š Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Willa across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Declining
10-Year Shift +9.9% Growth
18801920196020002025

πŸ“ˆ Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 889 births in 2019
Years in Top 100 0 yrs
Years in Top 500 77 yrs
Registry Streak 146 yrs
Historical Volatility Highly Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 239
1890s: 527
1900s: 890
1910s: 2,669
1920s: 4,792
1930s: 4,441
1940s: 3,415
1950s: 2,118
1960s: 956
1970s: 333
1980s: 283
1990s: 404
2000s: 1,344
2010s: 5,652
2020s: 4,761

πŸ“ Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Wi-lla
Letter Count 5 letters
Spelling Complexity Moderate
Length Percentile Longer than 7.7% of names
Linguistic Profile: Longer than 7.7% of SSA names. Starts with W, a letter used by only 1.1% of SSA names.

πŸ› οΈ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Willa.

πŸ“ Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State West Virginia
Top States West Virginia, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kentucky, Alabama
States with Data 49
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
West Virginia #371 813 1929 Insufficient historical volume
Oklahoma #396 1,162 1925 Insufficient historical volume
Arkansas #299 794 1925 Insufficient historical volume
Kentucky #403 1,244 1930 Insufficient historical volume
Alabama #369 1,201 1933 Insufficient historical volume
Tennessee #334 1,392 1932 21.9% Decline
Nebraska #168 470 2019 44.0% Decline
Missouri #310 1,413 1926 Insufficient historical volume
North Carolina #370 1,587 1935 9.1% Decline
Mississippi #337 683 1918 Insufficient historical volume
South Carolina #683 742 1927 Insufficient historical volume
Kansas #323 522 1923 Insufficient historical volume
Georgia #528 1,311 1915 26.7% Decline
Colorado #165 522 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Oregon #222 297 2019 Insufficient historical volume
Vermont Unranked 50 2015 Insufficient historical volume
Iowa #198 373 2021 Insufficient historical volume
Minnesota #166 508 2021 17.5% Decline
Washington #331 439 2020 39.5% Decline
Indiana #416 624 2019 Insufficient historical volume
Louisiana #532 448 1925 Insufficient historical volume
Ohio #482 1,141 2024 8.0% Decline
Illinois #572 1,105 2018 41.9% Decline
New Hampshire Unranked 69 2020 Insufficient historical volume
Idaho #276 85 2020 Insufficient historical volume
Pennsylvania #411 1,058 2018 18.2% Decline
Virginia #604 444 2016 Insufficient historical volume
Montana #167 58 2019 Insufficient historical volume
Florida #733 633 2019 Insufficient historical volume
North Dakota #115 61 2018 Insufficient historical volume
Utah #407 146 2020 Insufficient historical volume
Wisconsin #212 347 2020 15.6% Decline
Texas #948 1,302 2022 36.7% Decline
Massachusetts #312 362 2019 26.9% Decline
Maine Unranked 62 2016 Insufficient historical volume
South Dakota #277 47 2018 Insufficient historical volume
New York #460 1,054 2021 9.5% Decline
California #585 1,350 2021 13.8% Decline
Michigan #363 509 2019 Insufficient historical volume
Connecticut #456 126 2017 Insufficient historical volume
District of Columbia Unranked 51 2016 Insufficient historical volume
Maryland #991 170 2021 Insufficient historical volume
Arizona #1030 122 2018 Insufficient historical volume
New Jersey #498 185 2016 Insufficient historical volume
Alaska Unranked 6 2018 Insufficient historical volume
Wyoming Unranked 5 2020 Insufficient historical volume
Nevada Unranked 9 2022 Insufficient historical volume
Rhode Island Unranked 8 2017 Insufficient historical volume
New Mexico Unranked 5 1946 Insufficient historical volume

πŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘©β€πŸ‘§ Sibling Name Suggestions

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