Twilla
A feminine name derived from English word twill, referring to a textile fabric.
Name Census estimates that about 652 living Americans carry the first name Twilla. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Twilla today is around 66 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Twilla births was 1962 (37 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Twilla. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Twilla is about 66 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Twillas were born before 1970.
People living today
652
~ 1 in 525,697 Americans
Peak year
1962
37 babies that year
Average age
66
years old
1994 SSA rank
#15,641
Tracked since 1913
Popularity
Twilla: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Twilla from the 1910s through to the 1990s, spanning 9 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 252 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1960s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Twilla by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Twilla during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Twillas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 5 states and territories. Oklahoma, Kansas, Idaho recorded the most babies named Twilla, while Texas, Missouri, Idaho recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 6 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Twilla
The given name Twilla has its origins in the English language, emerging during the 19th century. It is believed to have been derived from the Old English word "twill," which refers to a type of fabric weave characterized by a distinctive diagonal pattern. The name may have been inspired by the intricate design and texture of the twill fabric, reflecting a connection to the textile industry or the artistry of weaving.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Twilla can be found in the 1880 United States Census, where a handful of individuals bore this name. It is worth noting that during this time period, many names were created or adapted to reflect the rapidly industrializing society and the emergence of new occupations and crafts.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the name Twilla. One such figure was Twilla Maude Butler (1879-1961), an American educator and suffragist from Missouri. She was actively involved in the women's suffrage movement and served as the president of the Missouri Woman's Suffrage Association from 1914 to 1919.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Twilla Potts (1918-2005), an American politician from Idaho. She served as a member of the Idaho House of Representatives from 1961 to 1965 and was later appointed as the first female District Court Judge in the state, a position she held from 1965 to 1988.
In the realm of literature, Twilla Tharp (1941-) is an acclaimed American dancer, choreographer, and author. She has created numerous groundbreaking works and has been widely recognized for her contributions to modern dance, receiving numerous honors, including the National Medal of Arts in 2004.
The name Twilla also found its way into the world of music with Twilla Paris (1950-), an American contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter. She has released several albums and is known for her contributions to the Praise and Worship genre, having written numerous popular songs for the church community.
Lastly, Twilla Gamble (1934-2022) was an American educator and civil rights activist from Mississippi. She played a significant role in desegregating public schools in her state and worked tirelessly to promote equal educational opportunities for African American students.
While the name Twilla may have originated from a humble connection to the textile industry, it has been carried by individuals who have left their mark in various fields, from education and politics to the arts and social activism, demonstrating the rich tapestry of stories and accomplishments woven into this distinctive name.
People
Twilla + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Twilla as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with T
Other first names starting with T with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Twilla: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Twilla?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 652 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Twilla going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 525,697 US residents.
Is Twilla a common name?
We classify Twilla as "Very Rare". It ranks above 87% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,205 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Twilla most popular?
The single biggest year for Twilla was 1962, when 37 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Twilla is about 66 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Twilla a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Twilla in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.