Names › Girls' names › W › Willa
Willa
Meaning: resolute protector (feminine of William) · Origin: Germanic · Gender: usually a girl's name
Origin & history
A feminine of William ('will' + 'helmet'). Willa Cather won the Pulitzer Prize for One of Ours (1923).
Famous people named Willa
- Willa Cather (novelist)
Nicknames
Willie
Variants & related names
Wilhelmina, Wilma
Willa name art
A free preview of a printable “Willa” poster with its meaning — great for a nursery, a birthday or a gift.
Instant download, no subscription. Not printed or shipped — you get a high-resolution PNG to print at home or at a print shop.
FAQ
What does the name Willa mean?
Willa means “resolute protector (feminine of William)”. It comes from Germanic.
Is Willa a popular name?
Yes — Willa has been one of the most popular girls' names in the United States in the 2020s, according to US Social Security Administration baby-name data.
What are nicknames for Willa?
Willie.
What are other forms of Willa?
Wilhelmina, Wilma.
Similar names
Harriet · Ada · Aubrey · Adeline · Louisa · Emma
More: names starting with W · all girls' names
Sources: standard name etymology references (e.g. Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names); popularity from US SSA and UK ONS baby-name data. Meanings of old names are often debated — where scholars disagree we say so.