Total births
673
Girls' name · since 1898
Willma
Since 1898, U.S. Social Security records show 673 babies named Willma, peaking in 1918. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 673
- total births
- 1898–1965
- years on record
- 1930s
- peak decade
- 25%
- born in that decade
673 girls have been named Willma since 1898, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Social Security Administration records show Willma recorded 673 times among girls since 1898, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1930s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1898 to 1965.
- 673 total births
- 1898–1965 years on record
- 1930s peak decade
- 25% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
673 girls have been named Willma since 1898, peaking in the 1930s, last recorded in 1965.
- 673
- total births
- 1898–1965
- years on record
- 1930s
- peak decade
- 25%
- born in that decade
1930s
Peak decade
25% of everyone ever named Willma was born in this single decade.
1918
Single peak year
27 babies were named Willma in 1918 - its busiest year on record.
Willma's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Willma splits its recorded history at 1934: 42% of all births land in the more recent half, 58% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1898 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1918 peak of 27 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Willma at a glance
Last recorded 1965Peak year
1918
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1898
Willma popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1898–1965
- Peak year (1918)
- 27
- Annual births at peak, across 68 years of records
Willma by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1930s was Willma's strongest decade.
165 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 25% of all-time use.
Willma births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1890s 5
1890s
5 births
- 1900s 20
1900s
20 births
- 1910s
1910s
140 births
- 1920s
1920s
151 births
- 1930s
1930s
165 births
- 1940s
1940s
105 births
- 1950s
1950s
69 births
- 1960s 18
1960s
18 births
What this shows Peak: 1930s at 165 births (25% of all-time use).
How Willma 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 Willma's total volume
Willma vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Willma? ▼
Willma has been given to 673 babies in the U.S. since 1898, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 1965. 27 babies were born in 1918, its single highest year.
When was Willma most popular? ▼
Willma was most popular in the 1930s decade with 165 total births. The single peak year was 1918.
How long has the name Willma been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Willma since 1898 -- 68 years through the most recent 1965 data.
What names are similar to Willma? ▼
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 Willma's data
- Willma's decade-level peak was the 1930s (165 total births); usage has since declined to 18 in the 1960s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- 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 Willma
Nearby Names Like Willma
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Willma
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 Willma side by side: Willma vs Willie Willma vs Wilma Willma 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, 1898–1965 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Willma: Baby Name Since 1898 - 673 Births, Peak 1918." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/willma. 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 Willma 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.