Wilhelmina (also: Wilhelmena, Wilhelmine, Wilhemina) is a feminine given name, the

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People ...

, German and

Yiddish Yiddish (, or , ''yidish'' or ''idish'', , ; , ''Yidish-Taytsh'', ) is a West Germanic language historically spoken by Ashkenazi Jews. It originated during the 9th century in Central Europe, providing the nascent Ashkenazi community with a ve ...

form of Wilhelm or

William William is a male Male (symbol: ♂) is the sex of an organism that produces the gamete (sex cell) known as sperm, which fuses with the larger female gamete, or ovum, in the process of fertilization. A male organism cannot reproduce sex ...

, which is derived from the Germanic ''wil'', meaning "will, desire" and ''helm'', meaning "

helmet A helmet is a form of protective gear worn to protect the head. More specifically, a helmet complements the skull in protecting the human brain. Ceremonial or symbolic helmets (e.g., a policeman's helmet in the United Kingdom) without protec ...

, protection". Wilhelmina was ranked in the top 1000 most popular names for girls in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territo ...

between 1900 and 1940 but is rarely used today.Behind the Name
/ref> In many

European countries The list below includes all entities falling even partially under any of the various common definitions of Europe, geographical or political. Fifty generally recognised sovereign states, Kosovo with limited, but substantial, international reco ...

, this name is once again very popular. Nicknames for Wilhelmina include, but are not restricted to,

Minna Minna is a city in Middle Belt Nigeria. It is the capital city of Niger State, one of Nigeria's 36 federal states. It consists of two major ethnic groups: the Gbagyi and the Nupe. History Archaeological evidence suggests settlement in th ...

, Mina, Mineke, Minnie, Willie and Billie.

Notable persons with this name

* Augusta Wilhelmena Fredericka Appel (1905–1973), American silent and early sound film actress * Joyce Penelope Wilhelmina Frankenberg (born 1951), British-American actress * Katherine Elizabeth Wilhelmina Sharon Beuving Langbroek (born 1965), Australian comedian, radio and television presenter *

Wilhelmine Schröder-Devrient Wilhelmine Schröder-Devrient, born Wilhelmine Schröder (6 December 180426 January 1860), was a German operatic soprano. As a singer, she combined a rare quality of tone with dramatic intensity of expression, which was as remarkable on the conce ...

(1804–1860), German operatic soprano * Wilhelmina van den Berg (born 1947), Dutch sprinter *

Wilhelmina von Bremen Wilhelmina "Billie" von Bremen (August 13, 1909 – July 16, 1976) was an American sprint runner. At the 1932 Summer Olympics The 1932 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the X Olympiad and also known as Los Angeles 1932) were an interna ...

(1909–1976), German American gold medalist in the Olympics * Vilhelmina Bardauskienė (born 1958), Lithuanian

long jumper The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a takeoff point. Along with the triple jump, the two events that measure jumping for distance as a gr ...

Wilhelmina Cooper Wilhelmina Gertrud Frieda Cooper (née Behmenburg; 1 May 1939 – 1 March 1980) was a Dutch-American model who began with Ford Models, and at the peak of her success, founded her own agency, Wilhelmina Models, in New York City in 1967. Retrie ...

(1939–1980), Dutch-American high fashion model and founder of

Wilhelmina Models Wilhelmina International Inc. (NASDAQ: WHLM), formerly Wilhelmina Models, is a full service modeling and talent agency headquartered in New York City, United States. The company also has offices in Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami. Founded in 1 ...

Wilhelmina Drucker Wilhelmina Drucker (née ''Wilhelmina Elizabeth Lensing''; Amsterdam, 30 September 1847 – Amsterdam, 5 December 1925) was a Dutch politician and writer. One of the first Dutch feminists, she was also known under her pseudonyms Gipsy, Gitano, an ...

(1847–1925), Dutch politician and writer *

Wilhelmina Feemster Jashemski Wilhelmina Mary Feemster Jashemski (July 10, 1910 – December 24, 2007) was an American scholar of the ancient site of Pompeii, where her archaeological investigations focused on the evidence of gardens and horticulture in the ancient city ...

(1910–2007), American classical archaeologist *

Vilhelmina Gyldenstolpe Vilhelmina Gyldenstolpe, née ''De Geer'' (16 December 1779, Stockholm-31 December 1858, Stockholm), was a Swedish court official. She served as ''överhovmästarinna'' (Senior lady-in-waiting) to the queen and later queen dowager of Sweden, Dési ...

(1779–1858), Swedish court official *

Wilhelmina Hay Abbott Wilhelmina Hay Abbott (; 22 May 1884 – 17 October 1957), also known by the name "Elizabeth Abbott," was a Scottish suffragist, editor, and feminist lecturer, and wife of author George Frederick Abbott. Early life and education Abbott was bo ...

(1884-1957), Scottish suffragist and feminist * Wilhelmine Kekelaokalaninui Widemann Dowsett (1861–1929), Native Hawaiian suffragist * Wilhelmina Skogh (1849–1926), hotel and restaurant owner from Sweden * Wilhelmina Houdini (1876–1943), American stage assistant and wife of

Harry Houdini Harry Houdini (, born Erik Weisz; March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926) was a Hungarian-American escape artist, magic man, and stunt performer, noted for his escape acts. His pseudonym is a reference to his spiritual master, French magician ...

* Wilhelmena Rhodes Kelly (1946–2019), African-American genealogist * Wilhelmina Koskull (1778–1852), Swedish courtier * Vilhelmína Lever (1802–1879), Icelandic shopkeeper and restaurateur * Wilhelmina Rietveld (1949–1973), Dutch-Canadian model * Wilhelmina Angela Schmidt (1897–1998), Dutch author, playwright and cabaret singer * Wilhelmine Williams (1878–1944), American feminist, pacifist, professor, and Latin American historian

Artists and art patrons

Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Wilhelmina Barns-Graham CBE (8 June 1912 – 26 January 2004) was one of the foremost British abstract artists, a member of the influential Penwith Society of Arts. Early life Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, known as Willie, was born in St Andr ...

(1912–2004), British abstract artist * Wilhelmina Pruit (1865-1947), American poet * Wilhelmine Schröder (1839–1924), Swedish writer * Wilhelmina Gravallius (1809–1884), Swedish writer *

Wilhelmina Holladay Wilhelmina Cole Holladay (née Cole; October 10, 1922 – March 6, 2021) was an American art collector and patron. She was the co-founder of the National Museum of Women in the Arts, and was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2006. Early lif ...

(born 1922), American art collector and patron * Wilhelmine Holmboe-Schenström (1842–1938), Norwegian opera singer * Wilhelmina Krafft (1778–1828), Swedish painter and miniaturist * Amalia Wilhelmina Königsmarck (1663–1740), Swedish painter and poet * Wilhelmina Seegmiller (1866–1913), Canadian-born American author, illustrator, art teacher * Wilhelmena Fuller Webb (1915–2012), American writer

Royalty and nobility

Wilhelmina of the Netherlands Wilhelmina (; Wilhelmina Helena Pauline Maria; 31 August 1880 – 28 November 1962) was Queen of the Netherlands from 1890 until her abdication in 1948. She reigned for nearly 58 years, longer than any other Dutch monarch. Her reign saw World War ...

(1880–1962), Queen of the Netherlands from 1890 until her abdication in 1948 * Princess Wilhelmine of Denmark (disambiguation), several Danish princesses * Wilhelmina Amalia of Brunswick (1673–1742), empress consort of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation, Queen of the Germans *

Wilhelmine of Bayreuth Princess Friederike Sophie Wilhelmine of Prussia (3 July 170914 October 1758) was a princess of Prussia (the older sister of Frederick the Great) and composer. She was the eldest daughter of Frederick William I of Prussia and Sophia Dorothea of ...

(1709–1758), German princess (the older sister of

Frederick the Great Frederick II (german: Friedrich II.; 24 January 171217 August 1786) was King in Prussia from 1740 until 1772, and King of Prussia from 1772 until his death in 1786. His most significant accomplishments include his military successes in the Sil ...

) and composer *

Wilhelmine of Prussia, Margravine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth Princess Friederike Sophie Wilhelmine of Prussia (3 July 170914 October 1758) was a princess of Prussia (the older sister of Frederick the Great) and composer. She was the eldest daughter of Frederick William I of Prussia and Sophia Dorothea of H ...

(1709–1758), German princess * Wilhelmina of Prussia (1750–1820), German princess * Wilhelmina Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt (1755–1776), German princess and first wife of

Paul I of Russia Paul I (russian: Па́вел I Петро́вич ; – ) was Emperor of Russia from 1796 until his assassination. Officially, he was the only son of Peter III and Catherine the Great, although Catherine hinted that he was fathered by her l ...

* Wilhelmine of Prussia (1774–1837), German princess and later queen of the Netherlands * Wilhelmine of Baden (1788–1836), German Grand Duchess of Hess and the Rhine * Mary Adelaide Wilhelmina Elizabeth of Cambridge (1833–1897), Member of the British royal family * Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard (born 1938), Queen of the Netherlands from 1980 until her abdication in 2013 * Wilhelmina Powlett, Duchess of Cleveland (1819–1901), English historian and maid of honour to

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days was longer than that of any previo ...

* Mariae Gloria Ferdinanda Joachima Josephine Wilhelmine Huberta, Princess of Thurn and Taxis (born 1960), German aristocrat

Fictional characters

* Wilhelmina Carmel from the ''Shakugan no Shana'' light novels * Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank from the ''Harry Potter'' book series *

Mina Harker Wilhelmina "Mina" Harker (née Murray) is a fictional character and the main female character in Bram Stoker's 1897 Gothic horror novel ''Dracula''. In the novel She begins the story as Miss Mina Murray, a young schoolmistress who is engaged ...

(née Wilhelmina Murray) from ''Dracula'' * Wilhelmina "Willie" Scott from ''Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom'' * Wilhelmina Slater from ''Ugly Betty'' * Wilhelmine, an evil witch and major antagonist in ''

The Mighty Hercules ''The Mighty Hercules'' is an animated television series based loosely on the Greek mythology character of Heracles, under his Roman name Hercules. It debuted on television in 1963. The show ran until 1966, coinciding with the sword-and-sandal ge ...

'' animated series from the 1960s * Princess Wilhelmina or "Willie" from Bruce Coville's ''The Dragonslayers'' * Wilhelmina "Will" Vandom of the Italian comic/cartoon series ''W.I.T.C.H.''

Variants

*Billie (

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

) *Elma (

, German) *Guilla (

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Can ...

) *Guillaumette ( French) *Guillaumine ( French) *Guillerma (

) * Guillermina (

) *Guilhermina (

Portuguese Portuguese may refer to: * anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Portugal ** Portuguese cuisine, traditional foods ** Portuguese language, a Romance language *** Portuguese dialects, variants of the Portuguese language ** Portu ...

) *Guglielma (

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional It ...

) *Guglielmina (

) *Guilette ( French) * Helma ( German) * Helmi ( Finnish, Swedish) *Helmine ( German) *Ilma (

) *Jeltje (

, Frisian) *Jeltsje (

, Frisian) *Mien (

) *Mientje (

) *Miina ( Finnish) *Mimi ( French) *Mimmi ( Finnish) *Mina (

, German,

Polish Polish may refer to: * Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe * Polish language * Poles, people from Poland or of Polish descent * Polish chicken *Polish brothers (Mark Polish and Michael Polish, born 1970), American twin scree ...

) *Mine ( German) *Minchen ( German) *Minette ( French) *Mini ( Finnish,

) *Minka (

Czech Czech may refer to: * Anything from or related to the Czech Republic, a country in Europe ** Czech language ** Czechs, the people of the area ** Czech culture ** Czech cuisine * One of three mythical brothers, Lech, Czech, and Rus' Places * Czech ...

, Slovakian) *

( Finnish, German) *Minnie (

) *Velvela (

) *Vilhelmiina ( Finnish) *Vilhelmina ( Finnish, Swedish, Hungarian) *Vilma (

, German,

, Slovakian,

, Swedish, Finnish) *Wilhelmine ( French, German) *Wilja ( Scandinavian) *Willa (

) *Willamina ( Scots) * Willemijn (

) *

Willemina Willemina is a Dutch feminine given name similar to Wilhelmina. Bearers often use a short form in daily life, including ''Ineke'', ''Mien'', ''Miep'', ''Wil'', ''Will'', ''Willeke'', ''Willy'', and ''Wilma''. People with the name include: * Wille ...

(

) *Willene (

) *Willie (

) *Willy (

) * Wilma (

, German)

References