How to say it
WIL · la
ˈwɪl.ə
Feminine
Willa
Resolute protector
What it means
A feminine of William, from the Germanic wil ('will, desire') plus helm ('helmet, protection').
Willa is a feminine form of William, carrying its 'resolute protector' meaning from wil, 'will,' and helm, 'protection.' It also serves as a short for Wilhelmina. The novelist Willa Cather, who chronicled the American prairie in My Ántonia, gave it literary weight, and it is back now with the vintage revival beside Hazel and Cora. Will is the short.
How to spell Willa
The standard spelling is Willa. Common variants include Willa, Willabelle, Wilhelmina, but Willa is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #274 in 1932, currently #422 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
A feminine of William; also a short for Wilhelmina.
- Pop culture
Novelist Willa Cather.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Willa Cather Pulitzer-winning American novelist (My Ántonia)
Spelling variants
- Willa
- Willabelle
- Wilhelmina
Names with the same feeling
See Willa from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Willa mean?
- A feminine of William, from the Germanic wil ('will, desire') plus helm ('helmet, protection').
- What does Willa mean in Germanic?
- In Germanic, Willa means "Resolute protector." Willa is a feminine form of William, carrying its 'resolute protector' meaning from wil, 'will,' and helm, 'protection.' It also serves as a short for Wilhelmina. The novelist Willa Cather, who chronicled the American prairie in My Ántonia, gave it literary weight, and it is back now with the vintage revival beside Hazel and Cora. Will is the short.
- Is Willa short for Wilhelmina?
- Yes. Willa is a short form of Wilhelmina, and it carries the same meaning, "Resolute protector." These days many parents use Willa as a given name in its own right, not only as a nickname.
- How do you pronounce Willa?
- Willa is pronounced ˈwɪl.ə. Say it as WIL-la, with the stress on the "wil" syllable.
- How do you spell Willa?
- The standard spelling is Willa. Common spelling variants include Willa, Willabelle, Wilhelmina.
- Is Willa a boy or girl name?
- Willa is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Willa?
- Willa ranked #422 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.