Williamina, derived from the Germanic elements 'wilhelm' meaning "resolute protection" and '-mann', signifying "of the household of", is a male given name that has been adopted for use as a female name in some cultures. It is often associated with its most notable bearer, Williamina Fleming, an astronomer who made significant contributions to the field despite not having formal education beyond high school. Born in Scotland in 1857, Fleming immigrated to Canada and later to the United States, where she began working as a maid for Edward Pickering, the director of the Harvard College Observatory. Impressed by her intelligence and mathematical skills, Pickering hired her as his assistant. Despite facing adversity due to her gender and lack of formal education, Fleming made substantial contributions to astronomy. She discovered 10 novae, including nova Geminorum, and was the first woman to be granted an observing membership at the Observatory. In addition, she played a crucial role in cataloging thousands of stars for the Henry Draper Catalogue, which aimed to classify stars by their spectra. Her work laid the foundation for modern stellar classification and had a profound impact on astrophysics. Today, Williamina serves as an inspiration for women in science and astronomy, demonstrating that intelligence, dedication, and hard work can overcome barriers of gender and formal education.
"Williamina was quite popular in 1914, with exactly five girls being named Williamina that year."