Names like Willa
Willa is a two-syllable Germanic name that ends on a vowel. Each list below follows one of those threads on its own, so you can see exactly what the names share.
The same sound
Two syllables, ending the same way as Willa.
Stella Latin · "star," the word itself, set alight as a name in Renaissance sonnets; a favorite of the early 1900s reborn on the celestial wave. Bright, brief, and impossible to misspell
Karla Germanic · feminine form of Karl, from Germanic karl, "man"
Ella English · brought to England by the Normans, traditionally from a Germanic root meaning "other"; for centuries also a short form of Eleanor, Ellen, and Isabella. Standalone since the Victorian era and revived worldwide on the strength of two easy syllables
Layla Arabic · "night," from the Arabic layl; the beloved of the seventh-century romance of Layla and Majnun, an impossible love retold for centuries in Arabic and Persian verse and, much later, in Western song. Lush, lyrical, easy everywhere
The same roots
Also Germanic names, from the tradition Willa comes from.
Alice Germanic · "of noble kind," from Adalheidis worn down through Old French Aalis; a medieval queen's name that Lewis Carroll sent down the rabbit hole into permanent storybook fame. The vintage revival returned it to the top tier across Europe and beyond
Emma Germanic · "whole, universal," from the old root ermen; it began a thousand years ago as a short form of longer Ermen- names and has stood alone ever since, worn by medieval queens and Austen's heroine alike. About as classic as a girl name can get
Louisa Germanic · feminine form of Louis, 'famous warrior'
Matilda Germanic · battle-mighty
The same feel
Also literary and vintage revival names.
Cora Greek · maiden
Zelda Yiddish · possibly a feminine form of the Yiddish Zelig, 'blessed, happy', or a short form of Griselda
Estella Latin · from 'stella', meaning 'star'
Evelina Germanic · variant of Evelyn, from the Norman name Aveline
Names of the same moment
Each of these is at its highest in the 2020s, the same decade as Willa, on a similar curve.
Mila Slavic · dear, gracious (short form of Ludmila/Camila/Emilia); increasingly popular in Russia and the Netherlands and one of the fastest US risers
Isla Scottish · variant of Islay, the Scottish island name; its spelling also matches Spanish isla, "island"
Zayla English · modern coinage, possibly echoing Zayn and Layla
Nyla English · probably a feminine form of Niles; the older meaning is uncertain
Which of these fits YOUR family? →