Wanda is a feminine given name of Polish origin and meaning. The name is derived from the masculine given name Wandusz, which is in turn derived from the Slavic element "wand" meaning "charming". Wanda has been used as a given name for females since at least the Middle Ages in Poland. One notable historical figure with the name Wanda was Queen Wanda of Poland (also known as Wanda of Bytom), who ruled in the 10th century and is considered a national heroine in Poland. Today, Wanda remains a popular choice for girls' names in Poland and has also gained some international recognition in recent years.
The name Wanda has been given to a total of 972 babies in the United States between the years 1917 and 1987. The popularity of the name varied over time, with peaks occurring in certain decades.
In the 1920s, the number of babies named Wanda was relatively low, with fewer than 10 births per year. However, starting from 1926, there was a noticeable increase in the usage of this name, with a peak of 27 births in 1934.
The 1930s and early 1940s saw continued popularity for Wanda, with the highest number of births recorded in 1940 (25) and 1942 (22). After World War II, there was a decrease in the usage of this name, but it remained relatively consistent throughout the late 1940s and early 1950s.
In the mid-1950s to the early 1960s, Wanda's popularity surged once again. There were consistently high numbers of births per year during this period, with peaks in 1960 (32) and 1963 (35). However, after 1964, there was a steady decline in the usage of this name.
By the late 1960s and early 1970s, Wanda's popularity had significantly waned. There were fewer than 15 births per year during these years, with some years seeing only single-digit numbers of births. This trend continued into the 1980s, with only five births recorded in each of the years 1982, 1984, and 1986-1987.
Despite its fluctuating popularity over time, Wanda has remained a unique and distinctive name throughout the decades. Its historic usage as a baby name in the United States offers insight into trends and preferences in naming during different periods of American history.