Given name
Willene
“determined protector”
Willene is a variant of Wilhelmina. In German use, Wilhelmina carries the interpretation “determined protector.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Willene is a variant of Wilhelmina. In German use, Wilhelmina carries the interpretation “determined protector.”
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1905. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Willene through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,928
- 0 boys · 2,928 girls
- Most popular year
- 1929
- 97 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 5 in 1975. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for girls was 97 in 1929. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,221 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.
Willene’s family of names
Willene has a related form in Wilhelmina.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Willene, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Erlene
“bearing a powerful shield”
>99% girls
Willia
14% boys · 86% girls
Norene
>99% girls
Christene
“follower of Christ”
>99% girls
Allene
“beautiful and fair woman; dear child”
>99% girls
Emogene
>99% girls
Joline
“God will add”
>99% girls
Billye
3% boys · 97% girls