Willanna
A feminine name derived from Will and Anna meaning "determined protector".
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Willanna. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Willanna today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Willanna births was 1916 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Willanna. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Willanna. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1916
6 babies that year
Average age
-
1916 SSA rank
#4,398
Tracked since 1912
Popularity
Willanna: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Willanna by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Willanna during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 0 | 11 | 11 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Willanna
Willanna is a unique and intriguing name with a rich history that spans multiple cultures and time periods. Its origins can be traced back to the ancient Germanic tribes, where it emerged as a combination of two Old Germanic words: "wil" meaning "will" or "desire," and "anna," a variant of the name Anna.
In the early medieval period, the name Willanna was predominantly found in regions of present-day Germany and the Netherlands. It was often associated with strong-willed and determined individuals, reflecting the meaning of its root words. Several historical records from this era mention individuals bearing this name, although specific details are scarce.
As the name traveled through various regions and cultures over the centuries, it underwent slight variations in spelling and pronunciation. In some regions, it was spelled "Wilanna" or "Willana," while in others, it was pronounced with a subtle emphasis on different syllables.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Willanna can be found in the chronicles of a 12th-century Benedictine monastery in Bavaria, where a nun named Willanna was noted for her dedication to her faith and her skills as a scribe.
In the 16th century, a woman named Willanna von Hagen gained recognition as a skilled herbalist and healer in the city of Cologne. Her knowledge of traditional remedies and her compassion for those in need earned her a respected place in the local community.
During the 17th century, a Dutch merchant named Willanna Van der Linden was celebrated for her entrepreneurial spirit and her success in establishing trade routes between the Netherlands and the East Indies.
In the 19th century, Willanna Müller, a German painter and artist, made significant contributions to the Romantic movement with her captivating landscapes and portraits that captured the essence of her time.
One of the most notable bearers of the name Willanna was Willanna Faber, a pioneering archaeologist born in 1882 in Austria. Her groundbreaking excavations in the Middle East and her contributions to the study of ancient civilizations earned her international acclaim.
While the name Willanna has remained relatively uncommon throughout history, its unique blend of cultural influences and its connection to strong, remarkable individuals have made it a distinctive and intriguing choice for parents seeking a name with character and depth.
People
Willanna + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Willanna as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with W
Other first names starting with W with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Willanna: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Willanna?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Willanna going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about - US residents.
Is Willanna a common name?
We classify Willanna as "Very Rare". It ranks above 2.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 11 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Willanna most popular?
The single biggest year for Willanna was 1916, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Willanna is about 0 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Willanna in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Willanna a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Willanna in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Willanna still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Willanna in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Willanna can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are called Willanna?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.