Wilhelmina
About Wilhelmina
Wilhelmina might once have been condemned as a clunky relic best left in the past, but a steadily increasing number of parents are dusting it off for their 21st century babies. A reasonably popular choice in the 19th century, but out of favor by the 1950s, in the last decade, Wilhelmina has attracted more attention, and was given to around 110 babies in a recent year.
A Dutch and German feminization of William, via Wilhelm, Wilhelmina is historically associated with Queen Wilhelmina who reigned in the Netherlands for most of the early 20th century, becoming a heroic figure during the two World Wars. The name got an infusion of glamour via Wilhelmina Cooper, the Dutch-born model who established the Wilhelmina Model Agency in 1967 — though the stylish association did little to save the name from going out of fashion.
The mid-2000s marked a turning point for Wilhelmina when the dynamic Vanessa Williams character from Ugly Betty gave the name a new edge, and it got a further boost in 2012, when singer musician Taylor Hanson chose it for his daughter.
More recently, the growing popularity of subscription newsletter Dracula Daily might have given the name increased exposure via the character Wilhelmina 'Mina' Harker. Increased interest around the vampire novel might have helped people see the name in a new light — while equally lending it some witchy, Gothic vibes.
While Willa is currently the more popular feminine form of William, ranking in the US Top 500, Wilhelmina is a more daring possibility that comes with a plethora of nicknames to lighten it, including: Mina, Minna, Minnie, Minka, Billie, Willa, Winnie, and Win.
Pronounced wil-hel-MEE-nuh.
As of October 2026, Wilhelmina ranked #1517 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #215 in 1884, Nameberry popularity #477.
Editor: Sophie Kihm
Sources: US popularity data is from the Social Security Administration. Meanings and origins are from Nameberry's name references.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank | Births | Per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #1,875 | 108 | 60.5 |
| 2015 | #1,608 | 134 | 75.1 |
| 2016 | #1,797 | 116 | 65.5 |
| 2017 | #1,742 | 122 | 70.7 |
| 2018 | #1,670 | 126 | 74.1 |
| 2019 | #1,638 | 130 | 77.5 |
| 2020 | #1,827 | 108 | 66.8 |
| 2021 | #1,649 | 127 | 77.4 |
| 2022 | #1,569 | 136 | 82.9 |
| 2023 | #1,541 | 139 | 86.6 |
| 2024 | #1,817 | 111 | 68.5 |
| 2025 | #1,517 | 141 | 87.7 |
World rankings
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Wilhelmina.
- Dorothea
- Agatha
- Augusta
- Sybil
- Constance
- Rosamund
- Millicent
- Tabitha
- Henrietta
- Philippa
- Alma
- Cornelia
- Ramona
- Enid
- Agnes
- Bernadette
- Maud
- Maude
- Ingrid
- Theodora
Wilhelmina on lists
Famous Wilhelminas
- Wilhelmina Helena Pauline Maria
Queen of the Netherlands
- (Frederika Sophia) Wilhelmina of Prussia
Queen consort of King William V of Orange
- Wilhelmina Cooper (born Gertrude Behmenburg)
Dutch,born American model
- Wilhelmina FitzClarence
Countess of Munster, British noblewoman and novelist
- Wilhelmina Geddes
Irish stained glass artist
- Wilhelmina Kekelaokalaninui Widemann Dowsett
American Hawaiian suffragist
- Wilhelmina Frances "Mina" Rawson
Australia's first cookbook author
- Wilhelmina Elizabeth Drucker
Dutch politician and author
- Wilhelmina Barns
Graham, British abstract artist
- Wilhelmina "Mina" Wylie
Australian swimmer
- Wilhelmina Jane Hanson (b. 2012)
daughter of singer Taylor Hanson
Wilhelmina in pop culture
- Wilhelmina Vivian Slater (born Wanda Slater)
character played by Vanessa Williams on TV's 'Ugly Betty'
- Wilhelmina "Willie" Scott
a main character from movie "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom"
- Wilhelmina "Mina" Harker
character in Bram Stoker's Dracula
- Wilhelmina Grubbly
Plank, frequent substitute for Hagrid in Harry Potter series
- Wilhelmina/Wilma "Will" Vandom
the Guardian of Quintessence in comic and TV series "W.I.T.C.H"
- Wilhelmina Carmel
character in Shakugan no Shana light novels
- Wilhelmina "Helma" Zukas
main character in mystery series by Jo Dereske
- Wilhelmina
modeling agency founded by Wilhelmina Cooper
- Wilhelmina "Mina" Grimm
main character in the "Unfortunate Fairy Tale" fantasy series by Chanda Hahn
- Wilhelmina "Willie
" princess character in Bruce Coville's The Dragonslayers
- Wilhelmina Wyatt
character in the Gemma Doyle series by Libba Bray
- Wilhelmina "Minna" Tims
character in The Mapmakers Trilogy by S. E. Grove
- Shirley Wilhelmina Feeney
character on TV's 'Laverne & Shirley'.
- Wilhelmina "Mina" Carstairs
Tessa and Jem's daughter in Cassandra Clare's books
- Wilhelmina Ogilvy
main character in "Miss Ogilvy Finds Herself", short story written by Radcliffe Hall