Wilma
/ˈwɪl.mə/noun
A feminine given name, originally a short form of names beginning with Wil- or a feminine form of Wilhelmina.
Did you know?Wilma is usually a modern short form of Germanic names like Wilhelmina, whose deeper elements mean “will, desire” and “helmet, protection,” a classic old-world name formula for strength.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*wiljô
“will, desire”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*helmaz
“helmet, covering”
Old High German
OHG
Willahelm
“personal name built from “will” + “helmet””
Middle Dutch / German
MDu / OHG
Wilhelmina
“feminine form of a Germanic personal name”
Late 19th–20th Century
English
Wilma
“short feminine given name, often from Wilhelmina or related Wil- names”