Girl name · Germanic
Wilhelmina
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: resolute protectorWilhelmina is a girl's name that comes from Germanic and means "resolute protector". It is used in Dutch, English and German.
- Meaning
- Resolute protector
- Origin
- Germanic
- Gender
- Girl
- US rank
- #1517 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Wilhelmina
As a girl's name, Wilhelmina comes from Germanic and means "resolute protector". It is used in Dutch, English and German.
In German, say vil-hel-MEE-nah. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Wilhelmina on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Wilhelmina on 7 lists.
“A long, grand name that shortens to Billie or Mina”
From Funny middle names, grand old-fashioned middle names
“A grand name for a grand bird”
From Funny names for turkeys, girl turkey names (for hens)
“Will and helmet; Germanic, a feminine form of Wilhelm. Say vil-hel-MEE-nah”
From German girl names, traditional German female names
“Resolute protector; Germanic. Grand, with Willa and Mina inside”
From Girl middle names, long girl middle names for short first names
“Will and protection; Germanic. Mina Harker's full name in Stoker's novel”
From Gothic names, gothic female names with real meanings
“Will and protection; Germanic. A Dutch queen who defied invaders in wartime”
From Strong female names, brave and bold girl names
“Resolute protector; Germanic, a long-reigning Dutch queen”
From Unique girl names, unique vintage girl names
How popular is Wilhelmina?
- US rank in 2025
- #1,517
- 141 babies, 88 per million girls
- Best rank
- #215 in 1884
- Most babies: 320 in 1916
- Babies since 1880
- At least 13,094
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 518 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 458 per million |
| 1900s | 388 per million |
| 1910s | 275 per million |
| 1920s | 171 per million |
| 1930s | 117 per million |
| 1940s | 66 per million |
| 1950s | 47 per million |
| 1960s | 26 per million |
| 1970s | 14 per million |
| 1980s | 8 per million |
| 1990s | 7 per million |
| 2000s | 11 per million |
| 2010s | 55 per million |
| 2020s | 78 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,798 | #1,742 | #1,671 | #1,641 | #1,829 | #1,650 | #1,570 | #1,541 | #1,809 | #1,517 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Wilhelmina
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
Names with a similar meaning
- AlexDefender, protector (Greek, unisex)
- WilliamResolute protector (Germanic, boy)
- OsmundGod protector (Old English, boy)
- RamonaCounsel protector (Germanic, girl)
- RaymondCounsel protector (Germanic, boy)
- BillyResolute protector (Germanic, boy)
- EdmundoRich protector (Old English, boy)
- GeirmundSpear and protector (Old Norse, boy)
- GopalCowherd, protector of cows (Sanskrit, boy)
- GovindProtector of cows (Sanskrit, boy)
Middle names for Wilhelmina
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More girl names from Germanic
- EmmaWhole, universal (Germanic, girl)
- AlinaShort form of Adelina, Albina and names ending in -alina (Germanic, girl)
- AliceNobility, of noble kind (Germanic, girl)
- CharlotteFree man, feminine of Charles (Germanic, girl)
- LouiseFamous warrior (Germanic, girl)
- AdaNoble (Germanic, girl)
- AdelaNoble (Germanic, girl)
- AdeleNoble one (Germanic, girl)
- AmeliaPossibly vigorous, brave (Germanic, girl)
- BertaBright, famous (Germanic, girl)
Wilhelmina: common questions
What does the name Wilhelmina mean?
Wilhelmina comes from Germanic and means "resolute protector".
Is Wilhelmina a boy or girl name?
Wilhelmina is mainly a girl's name.
Where does the name Wilhelmina come from?
Wilhelmina comes from Germanic and means "resolute protector". Today it is used in Dutch, English and German.
How popular is the name Wilhelmina?
Wilhelmina ranked #1,517 in the US in 2025, with 141 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Wilhelmina?
Forms of Wilhelmina with the same meaning and origin include Billie (English), Guillermina (Spanish), Minnie (English), Willa (English) and Willemijn (Dutch).
What middle names go with Wilhelmina?
Middle names that flow well with Wilhelmina include Amber, Anne, Dawn, Eve and Jean. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.