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Wylma
How to Pronounce Wylma
Pronounced WIL-muh /ΛwΙͺl.mΙ/High
Meaning: Wylma is a variant spelling of Wilma, itself a short form of Wilhelmina (the feminine of Wilhelm/William), from Germanic wil ('will, desire') and helm ('helmet, protection') β 'resolute protector' or 'will-helmet'. Wylma carries Wilma's meaning with a decorative y.Medium
Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880βpresent). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Wylma is a variant spelling of Wilma, a short form of Wilhelmina β the feminine of Wilhelm (William) β from the Germanic wil ('will') and helm ('helmet, protection'), giving 'resolute protector'. Swapping the i for a y was a small early-twentieth-century flourish that gave a familiar name a distinctive look.
It was always rare in this spelling β a few dozen girls a year at its faint peak around 1920 β while the plain Wilma carried the name's real popularity. It reads as a vintage variant; parents today reach for Wilma or the full Wilhelmina rather than Wylma, which has stayed obscure.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Wylma mean?
Wylma is a spelling of Wilma, a short form of Wilhelmina, from Germanic roots meaning 'resolute protector'.
How do you pronounce Wylma?
It's said WIL-muh /ΛwΙͺl.mΙ/ β two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Wylma a boy or girl name?
Wylma is used as a girl's name.
How popular is Wylma?
Wylma has always been rare in this spelling, a vintage variant most seen in the early twentieth century.