Willa Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Willa is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Willa?
Willa is spelled W-I-L-L-A. The name has 5 letters.
Willa at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Willa is a feminine given name thought to derive from the Germanic element “wil,” meaning “will” or “desire.”
- Origin
- The name Willa may derive from the Germanic root “wil,” which signifies “will” or “desire.”
- Pronunciation
- WIL-luh · 2 syllables
Willa Popularity in 2025
Rank#422
Recorded Births742
- Girls usage rose 1 place to #422 and recorded 9 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Willa Mean?
Willa is a feminine given name thought to derive from the Germanic element “wil,” meaning “will” or “desire.”
Origin: The name Willa may derive from the Germanic root “wil,” which signifies “will” or “desire.”
How Do You Pronounce Willa?
PronunciationWIL-luh
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Willa?
- History
- Willa has historical usage in English-speaking countries and has appeared in various forms in Germanic languages.
Willa Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2002 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 742 | #422 |
| 2024 | Girls | 733 | #423 |
| 2023 | Girls | 721 | #429 |
| 2022 | Girls | 791 | #395 |
| 2021 | Girls | 887 | #351 |
| 2020 | Girls | 887 | #349 |
| 2019 | Girls | 889 | #356 |
| 2018 | Girls | 813 | #383 |
| 2017 | Girls | 699 | #453 |
| 2016 | Girls | 689 | #461 |
| 2015 | Girls | 675 | #480 |
| 2014 | Girls | 562 | #551 |
| 2013 | Girls | 406 | #697 |
| 2012 | Girls | 389 | #716 |
| 2011 | Girls | 261 | #981 |
| 2010 | Girls | 269 | #951 |
| 2009 | Girls | 252 | #1,032 |
| 2008 | Girls | 247 | #1,057 |
| 2007 | Girls | 201 | #1,233 |
| 2006 | Girls | 116 | #1,788 |
| 2005 | Girls | 121 | #1,645 |
| 2004 | Girls | 99 | #1,895 |
| 2003 | Girls | 96 | #1,896 |
| 2002 | Girls | 97 | #1,844 |
When Was Willa Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2019 · Girls
889 recorded births
National rank #356
2021 · Girls
887 recorded births
National rank #351
2020 · Girls
887 recorded births
National rank #349
2018 · Girls
813 recorded births
National rank #383
Where Willa Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| ND | #101 | 9 |
| MT | #144 | 7 |
| NE | #157 | 14 |
| CO | #161 | 36 |
| MN | #162 | 33 |
| IA | #186 | 17 |
| WI | #201 | 27 |
| OR | #207 | 17 |