Wilma is of Germanic origin, derived from the word "wil," which means "will" or "desire." It was popularized by the character Wilma Flintstone, the matriarch of the modern Stone Age family in the animated television series "The Flintstones." In recent years, however, Wilma has seen a resurgence in usage as a given name for newborn girls, perhaps owing to its strong and unique sound.
The name Wilma seems to have been quite popular around the turn of the 20th century, with peaks in popularity between 1913 and 1929. However, it appears that its popularity declined significantly after the mid-1930s, with fewer than 25 births per year recorded from 1936 onwards. The name's usage remained relatively steady until the late 1940s, but it then experienced a significant drop-off in popularity starting from the early 1950s. Overall, Wilma was given to at least one baby each year between 1908 and 1961, with a total of 754 births recorded during this period.