How Many People Are Named Willa?
Complete statistics for the name Willa: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Willa is a soft, vintage-feeling name with Germanic roots, meaning 'resolute protection' and about 17,665 people in the US carry it today. It's genuinely rare, showing up in just 1 in 18,681 Americans. The cool twist? After decades of quiet, it's actually on the rise again.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life path number 3 is traditionally linked to creativity, self-expression, and a natural gift for communication. People associated with 3 are thought to bring warmth and optimism into the lives of those around them.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 63All 32,089 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 2019Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Rising
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Willa Through the Generations
Willa has a surprisingly small footprint for a name that's been around so long, with only 32,089 all-time US births on record. The living count of 17,665 suggests a meaningful chunk of people who were ever named Willa are no longer with us, which makes sense given the average age sits at 63. That age skew is striking: 62% of all living Willas are over 60, pointing to a name that had a quiet earlier life, faded for a long stretch, and left behind a mostly older-generation population. The middle generation is almost invisible, just 1,112 people aged 30 to 60, which is a real dip. But 11,153 under-30 Willas tell a different story. The peak came in 2019 with 889 births in a single year, and the overall trend is rising. So Willa is genuinely rare today but it's being rediscovered, threading a line between old-fashioned charm and something feeling fresh again.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Willa's Germanic roots
📄 About the Name Willa
How Many People Have the Name Willa?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 17,665 people in the United States currently share the name Willa. That works out to roughly 1 in every 18,681 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.
Is Willa a Common or Rare Name?
Willa is classified as Very Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Willa Mean?
Willa means "resolute protection" and comes from Germanic origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 3.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Willa in SSA data, approximately 0% are male and 100% are female.
When Was Willa Most Popular?
The name Willa reached peak popularity in 2019, with 889 babies registered that year. Current trend: Rising.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Willa?
Approximately 17,665 people named Willa live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 32,089. That works out to roughly 1 in 18,681 Americans.
Is Willa a rare name?
Willa is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 18,681 Americans has this name.
What does the name Willa mean?
Willa means "resolute protection" and comes from Germanic origins.
Is Willa more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 0% of people named Willa are male and 100% are female.
When was Willa most popular?
Willa peaked in 2019 with 889 births that year. Current trend: Rising.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.