Given name & surname

Wilhelmina

“determined protector”·“one who is protected”·“will”

In English use, Wilhelmina has a related form in Hilma. One German interpretation is “one who is protected.” Wilhelmina is a feminine form of William. William’s elements mean “will” or “desire” and “helmet” or “protection.” “Determined protector” is a natural interpretation of that combination.

Original GermanWilhelmine

Find names like Wilhelmina

Meaning & origin

What it means

In German use, Wilhelmina carries the interpretation “determined protector.” In English use, Wilhelmina has a related form in Hilma. One German interpretation is “one who is protected.” Wilhelmina is a feminine form of William. William’s elements mean “will” or “desire” and “helmet” or “protection.” “Determined protector” is a natural interpretation of that combination.

Combines direct and name-family evidence

Where it comes from

An origin associated with this spelling is German.

How it developed

Wilhelmina is used as a feminine counterpart of Wilhelm. Wilhelmina is a feminine form of William. The shared background comes through William: William joins the Germanic elements wil and helm. The second element began with the concrete image of a helmet and also carried the broader idea of protection.

Combines direct and name-family evidence

The story

Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In German use, Wilhelmina is a feminine form of Wilhelm. The history of Wilhelm gives this family its wider story. Wilhelm has historical associations with royal or imperial families. Wilhelmina is a feminine form of William. The history of William gives this family its wider story. William spread widely in England after the Norman Conquest, among people beyond the Norman ruling class. William remained prominent through the Middle Ages and became a royal name in England, Germany, and the Netherlands.

Combines direct and name-family evidence

Wilhelmina through the years

Babies since 1880: 13,099; 5 boys · 13,094 girls
Most popular year: 1916; 320 babies
2025: 141; #1,517 for girls
2021–25 vs 2016–20: +9%; Steady

Wilhelmina in U.S. Social Security birth records, 1880–2025, per million girls born. Years with fewer than five births for a sex are not published and appear as zero. Use the arrow keys to step through years.

Where it’s given

Most at home inWisconsin, Maryland, Michigan

FewerMore, relative to births Not published

2025 births by state of birth. Tiles are equal-sized so small states stay visible. Highest rates: Wisconsin (8), Maryland (5), Michigan (8), Arizona (5), Pennsylvania (7).

By the numbers

In 2025, this name appeared in 141 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,517 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 8.8% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 320 in 1916. In 2025, New York had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (11). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 4,940 as a first name in 2020.

From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.

Wilhelmina’s family of names

In English usage, Wilhelmina has a diminutive in Willie. Wilhelmina is a feminine form of William. Wilhelmina has a related form in Wilma.

Walk Wilhelmina’s family in the name graph

Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.

Hover or tab through the constellation to see how each name is related. Bigger dots are names more people in the U.S. share.

Around the world

Wilhelmina has relatives in 19 languages. Lines run from its German roots to each of them.

Germanwhere Wilhelmina comes from · 5 names

Each dot marks where a language is rooted, not where people with the name live today. Bigger dots hold more names. Dots on the border stand for languages further away. Language locations from Glottolog (CC BY 4.0); map from Natural Earth.

Across languages 26

Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.

Show 18 moreShow fewer

People named Wilhelmina

Characters named Wilhelmina: Wilhelmina Slater (fictional character).

Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.

Similar names

If you love Wilhelmina, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.

Anglo-Saxon · Royal

Sibling ideas

Names that share Wilhelmina’s feel without repeating its first letter or rhyming with it.

A brother for Wilhelmina

A sister for Wilhelmina

Your shortlist

Wilhelmina

Meaning & origin

What it means

Where it comes from

How it developed

The story

Wilhelmina through the years

Where it’s given

By the numbers

Wilhelmina’s family of names

Around the world

Nicknames & forms 38

Across languages 26

See also 2

People named Wilhelmina

Similar names

Ida

Louise

Winifred

Leora

Leonora

Eleanore

Nell

Elvira

Sibling ideas

Sign in