Girl name · Germanic
Wilma
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: resolute protectorWilma is a girl's name that comes from Germanic and means "resolute protector". It is used in German, Scandinavian and English.
- Meaning
- Resolute protector
- Origin
- Germanic
- Gender
- Girl
- Say it
- VIL-mah (German)
Meaning and origin of Wilma
As a girl's name, Wilma comes from Germanic and means "resolute protector". It is used in German, Scandinavian and English.
In German, say VIL-mah. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Wilma on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Wilma on 4 lists.
“Retro cartoon charm”
From Porch goose names, girl porch goose names
“Will and helmet; Germanic, short for Wilhelmina. Say VIL-mah”
From German girl names, cute German nicknames for girls
“Will and protection; Germanic. Shared with Olympic sprinter Rudolph”
From Strong female names, strong names worn by trailblazing women
“Resolute protector; Germanic. German settlers brought it to America”
From Vintage girl names, old fashioned girl names from the 1900s to 1920s
How popular is Wilma?
- US rank in 2025
- #3,705
- 41 babies, 26 per million girls
- Best rank
- #62 in 1925
- 4,175 babies that year
- Babies since 1880
- At least 140,101
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 162 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 499 per million |
| 1900s | 1,370 per million |
| 1910s | 2,622 per million |
| 1920s | 3,273 per million |
| 1930s | 3,112 per million |
| 1940s | 1,463 per million |
| 1950s | 638 per million |
| 1960s | 248 per million |
| 1970s | 80 per million |
| 1980s | 35 per million |
| 1990s | 23 per million |
| 2000s | 15 per million |
| 2010s | 17 per million |
| 2020s | 23 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #5,781 | #4,300 | #3,672 | #4,070 | #3,838 | #4,501 | #3,648 | #4,269 | #4,034 | #3,705 |
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 Wilma
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- BillieResolute protector (Germanic, girl)
- GuillerminaResolute protector (Germanic, girl)
- MinnieResolute protector (Germanic, girl)
- WilhelminaResolute protector (Germanic, girl)
- WillaResolute protector (Germanic, girl)
- WillemijnResolute protector (Germanic, girl)
- WilliaminaResolute protector (Germanic, girl)
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 Wilma
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer 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)
Wilma: common questions
What does the name Wilma mean?
Wilma comes from Germanic and means "resolute protector".
Is Wilma a boy or girl name?
Wilma is mainly a girl's name.
Where does the name Wilma come from?
Wilma comes from Germanic and means "resolute protector". Today it is used in German, Scandinavian and English.
How do you pronounce Wilma?
In German, say VIL-mah. Pronunciation can vary between languages and regions.
How popular is the name Wilma?
Wilma ranked #3,705 in the US in 2025, with 41 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Wilma?
Forms of Wilma with the same meaning and origin include Billie (English), Guillermina (Spanish), Minnie (English), Wilhelmina (Dutch) and Willa (English).
What middle names go with Wilma?
Middle names that flow well with Wilma include Crystal, Gemma, Paige, Patience and Rosamund. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.