Willa is a feminine form of William, from the Germanic wil, "will", and helm, "helmet", so it is read as "resolute protection". Novelist Willa Cather, who chronicled pioneer life on the Great Plains, is its best-known bearer. Willa entered the US top 1000 in 2010, peaked at number 350 in 2020 and holds number 422 in 2025.