Wilma is a name of Germanic origin, derived from the Old German word "wil," which means "will" or "desire." The name was popularized in the Middle Ages through the character Wilma, a noblewoman in the German epic poem "Parzival" by Wolfram von Eschenbach. Throughout history, Wilma has been used as a given name for girls, although it is not particularly common. Despite its limited popularity, Wilma carries a strong and determined meaning that may appeal to those looking for a distinctive and meaningful name choice.
The statistics show that the name Wilma was popular among parents in the United States from around 1908 to 1961, with a total of 754 babies given this name during that period.
During the early years, there were only a few births each year: five in both 1908 and 1909, six in 1912, seven in 1914 and 1915, and fifteen in 1913. However, from 1916 onwards, the number of babies named Wilma started to increase significantly.
In the 1910s and 1920s, there were consistently around twenty or more births each year with this name. The peak years for Wilma were in the late 1920s and early 1930s, with 29 births in 1929, 27 births in 1930, and a high of 29 births in 1935.
Interestingly, there was another peak in the mid-1940s, with around twenty births each year between 1941 and 1945. After this period, however, the popularity of Wilma started to decline again, with only a few births each year from 1946 onwards.
Despite the decrease in popularity over time, it is clear that Wilma was once a popular name among American parents during the early-to-mid 20th century.