Whilma
Feminine name of German origin meaning "resolute protection".
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Whilma. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Whilma today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Whilma births was 1908 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Whilma. 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
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Whilma. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1908
5 babies that year
Average age
-
1928 SSA rank
#5,416
Tracked since 1908
Popularity
Whilma: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Whilma from the 1900s through to the 1920s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 15 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Whilma 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 Whilma during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Whilma
The given name Whilma is relatively rare and obscure, with its origins shrouded in mystery. It is believed to have emerged from the Old Frisian language, spoken by the ancient Frisian people inhabiting the coastal regions of what is now the Netherlands and northwestern Germany.
Some scholars suggest that Whilma may be derived from the Old Frisian word "wilma," meaning "to protect" or "to shield." This could indicate that the name was initially bestowed upon individuals who were perceived as guardians or protectors within their communities. However, the exact etymology remains uncertain due to the scarcity of historical records.
In the annals of recorded history, the earliest known mention of the name Whilma dates back to the 12th century. A manuscript discovered in the archives of a medieval monastery in present-day Friesland references a nun named Whilma, who is believed to have lived and served within the monastery's walls.
Throughout the centuries, the name Whilma has been borne by a handful of noteworthy individuals, though their stories have largely faded into obscurity. One such figure was Whilma van Rijn, a Dutch painter known for her intricate still-life compositions, who lived from 1602 to 1678.
Another individual of historical significance was Whilma Eriksdottir, a 16th-century Icelandic scholar and translator. Born in 1543, she was renowned for her expertise in Old Norse literature and her contributions to the preservation of ancient Icelandic texts.
In the realm of literature, Whilma Atherton, an English poet and novelist, gained recognition for her poignant works exploring themes of love, loss, and the human condition. She lived from 1788 to 1854 and was celebrated for her lyrical prose and evocative imagery.
The annals of history also reveal a Whilma Gonzalez, a Spanish revolutionary and activist who fought for workers' rights and social justice during the late 19th century. Born in 1862, she was a prominent figure in the labor movement and dedicated her life to advocating for the rights of the oppressed.
Lastly, Whilma Beaumont, a French botanist and explorer, made significant contributions to the field of plant taxonomy in the early 20th century. Born in 1879, she embarked on numerous expeditions to remote regions, cataloging and studying a vast array of plant species, many of which bear her name in their scientific nomenclature.
While the name Whilma may be obscure in modern times, these scattered historical references serve as a testament to the individuals who bore this rare moniker, leaving an indelible mark on their respective fields and societies.
People
Whilma + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Whilma as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with W
Other first names starting with W with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Whilma: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Whilma?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Whilma 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 - US residents.
Is Whilma a common name?
We classify Whilma as "Very Rare". It ranks above 2.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 20 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Whilma most popular?
The single biggest year for Whilma was 1908, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Whilma is about 0 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Whilma in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Whilma a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Whilma 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.
Is Whilma still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Whilma in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Whilma can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Whilma?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.