Willa could be used as a nickname for Wilfreda, Wilfrida, Willelma, Willberna, Wilberta, Wilhilde, Wiltrud, Wilhelmina, Wilhelmine, Willemina and Williamina.
My name is Willa, I was born in 1989 so I'm 26. I get tons and tons of compliments from the older generations impressed that such an old name has come and that they have met a younger person with the name Willa. From my generation and my parents generation I'm constantly asked to repeat it, or correcting people who have called me "Willow". Overall I love my name, to me it's normal but rare, and I've never thought it wasn't aging well since it is such an old and classic name.
― Anonymous User 3/29/2015
3
This name has suddenly jumped to the US top 1000 in 2010. In 2013, it rose to number 691, according to the Social Security Administration baby name database.I suspect that this sudden rise in popularity has to do with the popularity of Willow and parents wanting short, pronounceable names that are also uncommon. Well, if Willa continues to rise in popularity, it will eventually no longer be uncommon.