Total births
3,316
Unisex name · since 1882
Willia
Since 1882, U.S. Social Security records show 3,316 babies named Willia, peaking in 1928. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 3,316
- total births
- 1882–1981
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 22%
- born in that decade
Willia is not among the current top-ranked girls names; 3,316 have been recorded since 1882.
Willia has 3,316 recorded births among girls since 1882, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, though it falls outside today's most-used girls names, busiest in the 1920s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1882 to 1981.
- 3,316 total births
- 1882–1981 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 22% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
3,316 girls have been named Willia since 1882, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 1981.
- 3,316
- total births
- 1882–1981
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 22%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
22% of everyone ever named Willia was born in this single decade.
1928
Single peak year
94 babies were named Willia in 1928 - its busiest year on record.
Willia's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Willia's full recorded timeline at 1930, 55% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 45% in the earlier half -- a fairly even split across the full record. Its quietest year on record was 1882, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1928 peak of 94 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Willia at a glance
Last recorded 1981Peak year
1928
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1882
Willia popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1882–1981
- Peak year (1928)
- 94
- Annual births at peak, across 100 years of records
Willia popularity over time - boys
550 total births recorded since 1893 (Willia as boys' name)
Willia by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Willia's strongest decade.
741 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 22% of all-time use.
Willia births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 19
1880s
19 births
- 1890s 98
1890s
98 births
- 1900s 171
1900s
171 births
- 1910s
1910s
459 births
- 1920s
1920s
741 births
- 1930s
1930s
692 births
- 1940s
1940s
651 births
- 1950s
1950s
353 births
- 1960s 107
1960s
107 births
- 1970s 20
1970s
20 births
- 1980s 5
1980s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 741 births (22% of all-time use).
How Willia compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Willia's total volume
Willia vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Willia by state
Where Willia concentrates geographically, total births since 1882
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Alabama | | 197 | 5.9% |
| #2 | Texas | | 185 | 5.6% |
| #3 | South Carolina | | 168 | 5.1% |
| #4 | North Carolina | | 162 | 4.9% |
| #5 | Kentucky | | 149 | 4.5% |
| #6 | Mississippi | | 141 | 4.3% |
| #7 | Georgia | | 107 | 3.2% |
| #8 | Tennessee | | 92 | 2.8% |
Alabama share of Willia's total US births 5.9%
Even split
197 of 3,316 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 15 reporting states.
Willia appears in 15 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Willia? ▼
Since 1882, Social Security records show 3,316 babies named Willia. The most recent recorded year was 1981. Its busiest year on record was 1928, with 94 births.
When was Willia most popular? ▼
Willia was most popular in the 1920s decade with 741 total births. The single peak year was 1928.
Where is Willia most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Willia are Alabama (197 births), Texas (185 births), South Carolina (168 births).
Is Willia a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Willia is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name it has 3,316 births, and as a boy's name it has 550 births.
How long has the name Willia been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Willia since 1882 -- 100 years through the most recent 1981 data.
What names are similar to Willia? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Willie, Wilma, Willow, Willa, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Willia's data
- Willia's decade-level peak was the 1920s (741 total births); usage has since declined to 5 in the 1980s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Alabama records the most Willias (197 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Alabama names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Willia
Nearby Names Like Willia
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Willia
Willie Girl
#13478 146,197 births
Wilma Girl
#3967 140,101 births
Willow Girl
#41 65,095 births
Willa Girl
#423 32,824 births
William Girl
#10275 16,029 births
Compare Willia side by side: Willia vs Willie Willia vs Wilma Willia vs Willow
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1882–1981 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Willia: Baby Name Since 1882 - 3,316 Births, Peak 1928." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/willia. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Willia draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.