Willa
Girl name · #422 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Willa? In official American birth records, Willa has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 742 baby girls were named Willa, placing it at #422 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #480, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,426 girls born in 2025 was named Willa.
Babies named Willa per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Willa first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 12 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2019, when 889 girls were named Willa — good for #356 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Willa against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Willa in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Willa is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Willa is most common
Geography matters for names, and Willa is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Willa is most common in NE (2 per 1,000), CO (1.5 per 1,000), MN (1.5 per 1,000), IA (1.4 per 1,000), WI (1.3 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.6 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Willa is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Willa
Statistically, parents drawn to Willa tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Camilla, Briella, Ariella, Kamila, and Arabella.
CamillaBriellaAriellaKamilaArabellaKamillaCallaLeyla
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Willa | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 742 | #422 |
| 2024 | 733 | #423 |
| 2023 | 721 | #429 |
| 2022 | 791 | #395 |
| 2021 | 887 | #351 |
| 2020 | 887 | #349 |
| 2019 | 889 | #356 |
| 2018 | 813 | #383 |
| 2017 | 699 | #453 |
| 2016 | 689 | #461 |
| 2015 | 675 | #480 |
| 2014 | 562 | #551 |
| 2013 | 406 | #697 |
| 2012 | 389 | #716 |
| 2011 | 261 | #981 |
| 2010 | 269 | #951 |
| 2009 | 252 | #1032 |
| 2008 | 247 | #1057 |
| 2007 | 201 | #1233 |
| 2006 | 116 | #1788 |
| 2005 | 121 | #1645 |
| 2004 | 99 | #1895 |
| 2003 | 96 | #1896 |
| 2002 | 97 | #1844 |
| 2001 | 59 | #2571 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Willa?
In official American birth records, the name Willa first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 12 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Willa a popular girl name?
Willa ranked #422 among girls in 2025 with 742 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #480.
When was the name Willa most popular?
Willa peaked in 2019, when 889 American girls received the name (ranked #356 that year). Since 2019 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Willa?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,426 newborn American girls was named Willa. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.