Willa

#422 for girls in 2025, 742 births · Last seen for boys in 1937 at #3,175
Given to girls 99.9% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1932 · 515 births
Debut · girls
12 births
In top 100 · girls
never
of 146 years
Total births · girls
32,824
since 1880

Willa over time

girls

Rank among girls' names. Willa has never cracked the top 200 here.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201918peak #273, 1932girls
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#422742—
2024#423733—
2023#429721—
2022#395791—
2021#351887—
2020#349887—
2019#356889—
2018#383813—
2017#453699—
2016#461689—
2015#480675—
2014#551562—
2013#697406—
2012#716389—
2011#981261—
2010#951269—
2009#1,032252—
2008#1,057247—
2007#1,233201—
2006#1,788116—
2005#1,645121—
2004#1,89599—
2003#1,89696—
2002#1,84497—
2001#2,57159—
2000#2,63256—
1999#2,30764—
1998#2,84646—
1997#3,44833—
1996#3,30235—
1995#2,55249—
1994#2,58548—
1993#2,88241—
1992#3,50331—
1991#3,54030—
1990#3,81327—
1989#3,25332—
1988#3,09532—
1987#3,62424—
1986#3,05430—
1985#3,51724—
1984#2,51537—
1983#3,43123—
1982#3,17227—
1981#2,92830—
1980#3,41124—
1979#2,62134—
1978#2,62932—
1977#2,90927—
1976#3,00224—
1975#2,68028—
1974#2,68327—
1973#2,50629—
1972#2,22234—
1971#1,82848—
1970#1,78150—
1969#1,87144—
1968#1,85541—
1967#1,23974—
1966#1,23276—
1965#1,08992—
1964#1,032109—
1963#1,09998—
1962#911135—
1961#918138—
1960#851149—
1959#879139—
1958#783163—
1957#767169—
1956#703185—
1955#599237—
1954#603226—
1953#583229—
1952#508276—
1951#546238—
1950#506256—
1949#469293—
1948#530244—
1947#471303—
1946#447300—
1945#379344—
1944#360371—
1943#379364—
1942#338421—
1941#331400—
1940#329375—
1939#320375—
1938#329368—
1937#308405#3,1756
1936#281454—
1935#297414—
1934#278486—
1933#280462#3,2686
1932#273515#3,7765
1931#300450—
1930#291512—
1929#294494#3,2477
1928#299500—
1927#277566—
1926#287536—
1925#295521—
1924#307471—
1923#301457—
1922#318416—
1921#326407—
1920#317424—
1919#324382—
1918#311425—
1917#341336—
1916#348316—
1915#346292—
1914#332251—
1913#334208—
1912#344180—
1911#329145—
1910#340134—
1909#323123—
1908#36199—
1907#338106—
1906#33997—
1905#34992—
1904#34291—
1903#35579—
1902#38964—
1901#39755—
1900#36984—
1899#37161—
1898#39660—
1897#37958—
1896#35567—
1895#38453—
1894#42243—
1893#38748—
1892#37351—
1891#42335—
1890#35851—
1889#38140—
1888#38739—
1887#39031—
1886#38731—
1885#41325—
1884#52016—
1883#42320—
1882#47515—
1881#53910—
1880#49212—
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Willa was already there! It came in at #492, and was given to 12 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 1880–1882, when fewer than 16 girls a year got the name.

Where Willa is popular in 1918

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Willa, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 girls named Willa, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Willa, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Willa, so not publishedNHWashington: fewer than 5 girls named Willa, so not publishedWAIdaho: fewer than 5 girls named Willa, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 girls named Willa, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Willa, so not publishedNDMinnesota: fewer than 5 girls named Willa, so not publishedMNIllinois: #451 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 6,199 girlsILWisconsin: fewer than 5 girls named Willa, so not publishedWIMichigan: fewer than 5 girls named Willa, so not publishedMINew York: #696 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 20,232 girlsNYMassachusetts: fewer than 5 girls named Willa, so not publishedMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Willa, so not publishedRIOregon: #107 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 449 girlsORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Willa, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Willa, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Willa, so not publishedSDIowa: #259 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 2,000 girlsIAIndiana: #410 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 5,192 girlsINOhio: #392 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 5,452 girlsOHPennsylvania: #389 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 6,638 girlsPANew Jersey: fewer than 5 girls named Willa, so not publishedNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Willa, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #458 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 4,610 girlsCAUtah: fewer than 5 girls named Willa, so not publishedUTColorado: fewer than 5 girls named Willa, so not publishedCONebraska: #316 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 2,513 girlsNEMissouri: #163 for girls · 35 births · 1 in 878 girlsMOKentucky: #160 for girls · 34 births · 1 in 795 girlsKYWest Virginia: #152 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 798 girlsWVVirginia: #299 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 3,015 girlsVAMaryland: #255 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 2,749 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Willa, so not publishedDEArizona: fewer than 5 girls named Willa, so not publishedAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 girls named Willa, so not publishedNMKansas: #228 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 1,450 girlsKSArkansas: #264 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,500 girlsARTennessee: #211 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 1,286 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #234 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 1,615 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #212 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 1,450 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Willa, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #171 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 864 girlsOKLouisiana: #393 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 2,959 girlsLAMississippi: #155 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 714 girlsMSAlabama: #180 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 991 girlsALGeorgia: #229 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 1,493 girlsGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Willa, so not publishedHITexas: #494 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 3,810 girlsTXFlorida: #167 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 751 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Oregon#107 · 1 in 449
  2. West Virginia#152 · 1 in 798
  3. Mississippi#155 · 1 in 714
  4. Kentucky#160 · 1 in 795
  5. Missouri#163 · 1 in 878

Best ever in a state: #63 in Nebraska, 2019.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Oregon#107121 in 449
West Virginia#152221 in 798
Mississippi#155271 in 714
Kentucky#160341 in 795
Missouri#163351 in 878
Florida#167131 in 751
Oklahoma#171271 in 864
Alabama#180271 in 991
Tennessee#211201 in 1,286
South Carolina#212151 in 1,450
Kansas#228111 in 1,450
Georgia#229231 in 1,493
North Carolina#234211 in 1,615
Maryland#25551 in 2,749
Iowa#259111 in 2,000
Arkansas#264131 in 1,500
Virginia#29991 in 3,015
Nebraska#31651 in 2,513
Pennsylvania#389151 in 6,638
Ohio#392101 in 5,452
Louisiana#39371 in 2,959
Indiana#41051 in 5,192
Illinois#451101 in 6,199
California#45851 in 4,610
Texas#494131 in 3,810
New York#69651 in 20,232
Alaska———
Arizona———
Colorado———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Hawaii———
Idaho———
Maine———
Massachusetts———
Michigan———
Minnesota———
Montana———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Jersey———
New Mexico———
North Dakota———
Rhode Island———
South Dakota———
Utah———
Vermont———
Washington———
Wisconsin———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Willa
Momentum · girls
Holding steady
  • 1 spot since 2024 (#423 → #422)
  • 73 spots since 2020 (#349 → #422)
  • 58 spots since 2015 (#480 → #422)
  • Biggest jump: 265 spots in 2012 (#981 → #716)
  • Biggest drop: 188 spots in 1963 (#911 → #1,099)
Rise & fade · girls
52 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1932 at #273 (515 births)
  • Births halved by 1948, 16 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 1,000 for 99 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: never
  • Top 1,000: 99 yrs · run 1880–1962
Share of babies · girls
1 in 1,822
  • Highest: 1 in 1,822 girls born in 2020 were named Willa (0.05%)
  • Latest: 1 in 2,166 girls born in 2025 (0.05%)
  • Its best rank, #273 in 1932, was only 1 in 2,072 (0.05%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · girls
The 2010s
  • 17.2% of all girls named Willa (5,652) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s239#381 (1889)#441
1890s527#355 (1896)#385
1900s890#323 (1909)#356
1910s2,669#311 (1918)#335
1920s4,792#277 (1927)#302
1930s4,441#273 (1932)#296
1940s3,415#329 (1940)#403
1950s2,118#506 (1950)#648
1960s956#851 (1960)#1,210
1970s333#1,781 (1970)#2,486
1980s283#2,515 (1984)#3,200
1990s404#2,307 (1999)#3,078
2000s1,344#1,032 (2009)#1,759
2010s5,652#356 (2019)#603
2020s4,761#349 (2020)#395

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Willa in 1918

girls
#311
425 births · 1 in 2,724 girls

Top girls' names in 1918

  1. #1Mary67,365
  2. #2Helen36,148
  3. #3Dorothy32,030
  4. #4Margaret27,139
  5. #5Ruth25,535
  6. #6Mildred17,258
  7. #7Virginia16,421
  8. #8Frances16,132
  9. #9Elizabeth15,853
  10. #10Anna15,666
  11. #311Willa425
More about 1918

girls

1,157,631 girls got a published name in 1918; 1 in 2,724 of them was named Willa, which outranked 94.4% of the 5,585 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.3% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Willa
  1. #308Avis429
  2. #309Claudia428
  3. #310Allie427
  4. #311Willa425
  5. #312Cornelia424
  6. #313Rosella420
  7. #314Dollie415
Biggest movers since 1917
Risers
  1. ↑ 547Jesse#1,507 → #960
  2. ↑ 494Liberty#1,079 → #585
  3. ↑ 389Marilynn#1,337 → #948
  4. ↑ 312Margueritte#1,281 → #969
  5. ↑ 306Syble#807 → #501
Fallers
  1. ↓ 447Valentine#964 → #1,411
  2. ↓ 428Ottie#952 → #1,380
  3. ↓ 354Delora#923 → #1,277
  4. ↓ 318Georgene#896 → #1,214
  5. ↓ 299Clifford#904 → #1,203

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1918 →