Meaning & origin
A reliable meaning for Willia isn’t established in our sources yet. Rather than guess, we show what is recorded: how the name is used, how often, and the names it’s connected to.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1882. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Willia through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 3,866
- 550 boys · 3,316 girls
- Most popular year
- 1928
- 101 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 14% boys.
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for boys is 8 in 1989. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for boys was 20 in 1986. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,728 as a first name in 2020; 179 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Willia’s family of names
In German usage, Willia has a related form in Willa. In German usage, Willia has a related form in WILJA.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Willia, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Willene
“determined protector”
>99% girls
Wanita
“one who changes; a shapeshifter”
>99% girls
Belia
“a woman famed for her beauty”
>99% girls
Wilma
“determined protector”
>99% girls
Velia
“from Velia”
>99% girls
Waneta
“one who changes; a shapeshifter”
>99% girls
Wynona
“firstborn daughter”
>99% girls
Rosia
>99% girls