Wilma
A female given name from the Germanic languages, a contraction of Wilhelmina.
Every Wilma since 1880 — 140,855 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Wilma
Wilma is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #3,705 in 2025 with 41 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 140,855 American babies have been named Wilma. Its peak came in 1925, when 4,202 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1920s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Wilma stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Wilma year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 41 | #3,705 | — | — |
| 2024 | 37 | #4,034 | — | — |
| 2023 | 34 | #4,269 | — | — |
| 2022 | 43 | #3,648 | — | — |
| 2021 | 31 | #4,501 | — | — |
| 2020 | 38 | #3,838 | — | — |
| 2019 | 36 | #4,070 | — | — |
| 2018 | 42 | #3,672 | — | — |
| 2017 | 34 | #4,300 | — | — |
| 2016 | 23 | #5,781 | — | — |
| 2015 | 32 | #4,483 | — | — |
| 2014 | 20 | #6,433 | — | — |
| 2013 | 32 | #4,536 | — | — |
| 2012 | 25 | #5,545 | — | — |
| 2011 | 28 | #5,057 | — | — |
| 2010 | 28 | #5,100 | — | — |
| 2009 | 31 | #4,800 | — | — |
| 2008 | 27 | #5,430 | — | — |
| 2007 | 26 | #5,519 | — | — |
| 2006 | 23 | #5,893 | — | — |
| 2005 | 26 | #5,109 | — | — |
| 2004 | 29 | #4,701 | — | — |
| 2003 | 27 | #4,803 | — | — |
| 2002 | 35 | #3,805 | — | — |
| 2001 | 29 | #4,314 | — | — |
| 2000 | 32 | #3,975 | — | — |
| 1995 | 46 | #2,684 | — | — |
| 1990 | 59 | #2,200 | — | — |
| 1985 | 51 | #2,099 | — | — |
| 1980 | 79 | #1,517 | — | — |
| 1975 | 109 | #1,082 | — | — |
| 1970 | 202 | #735 | — | — |
| 1965 | 396 | #477 | — | — |
| 1960 | 724 | #362 | — | — |
| 1955 | 1,100 | #248 | — | — |
| 1950 | 1,655 | #171 | 7 | #3,320 |
| 1945 | 1,890 | #128 | 10 | #2,391 |
| 1940 | 2,621 | #93 | 21 | #1,518 |
| 1935 | 3,361 | #70 | 22 | #1,492 |
| 1930 | 4,075 | #68 | 27 | #1,427 |
| 1925 | 4,175 | #62 | 27 | #1,449 |
| 1920 | 3,670 | #78 | 17 | #2,050 |
| 1915 | 2,773 | #80 | 7 | #3,386 |
| 1910 | 698 | #119 | — | — |
| 1905 | 357 | #158 | — | — |
| 1900 | 285 | #187 | — | — |
| 1895 | 99 | #281 | — | — |
| 1890 | 64 | #316 | — | — |
| 1885 | 23 | #445 | — | — |
| 1880 | 5 | #942 | — | — |
Famous people named Wilma
- Wilma Rudolph Athlete · 1940–1994
- Wilma Mankiller Writer · 1945–2010
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Wilma mean?
A female given name from the Germanic languages, a contraction of Wilhelmina.
How popular is the name Wilma in 2025?
Wilma ranked #3,705 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 41 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Wilma?
140,855 babies have been named Wilma in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Wilma most popular?
Wilma peaked in 1925, when 4,202 newborns received the name.
Is Wilma a boy or girl name?
Wilma is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 99% of babies with the name.
Is the name Wilma rising or falling?
Wilma is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Wilma?
Well-known people named Wilma include Wilma Rudolph (athlete), Wilma Mankiller (writer).