Lisa Wright
asked:
Where did the name Willa come from? I ask because the main character of Barbara Kingsolver's forthcoming novel is also named Willa. I had never come across the name before and now twice at one time. Weird. Just saying...
To answer questions about
Clock Dance,
please sign up.
Gina
Willa Cather was a great writer: O Pioneers My Antonia, who didn't get enough attention when she was actively writing. She was a woman in a mostly man's world,
Cata Low
Don't know the answer to this one, but one of my favorite authors is Willa Cather. "Death Comes for the Archbishop" and "My Antonia" I think it's an older name...
Paula
I assumed it was short for "Willamina" (which is Scottish) or "Wilhelmina" (which is German.)
Brenda Brockman
My grandmother's middle name was Willa...popular in the 1800's Of western European source...
Terry
Willa Cather, great American author!
Laurie
It's funny you asked this because I just read Kingsolver's Unsheltered. The very next book I picked up was Tyler's Clock Dance and I thought it was so funny that I read 2 books in a row with a main character named Willa. :)
Like other people have already said, it could be homage to Willa Cather, another excellent writer!
Like other people have already said, it could be homage to Willa Cather, another excellent writer!
Susan
I have a Willa in my family; she’s named after her late grandfather, William. Simple as that.
Karen
Children's author, Beverly Cleary, had a character named Willa Jean. She was one of Ramona Quimby's neighbors. After school, Ramona had to go their to be babysat by Willa Jean and Howie's grandmother.
Closet Rebel
Willa is a name on the comeback. http://www.babynamewizard.com/voyager...
Next will be Agnus?
Next will be Agnus?
Amber
If you look up baby name popularity, you'll see it was popular in the 1920s-1940s, and has been making a steady comeback in the last few years as well. Currently in pop culture, there's pop singer Willa Ford, and a few actresses in their 20s named Willa.
Dale Edgerton
One of my best friend's mother is named Willa. She's around 100 now. Willa Cather's "My Antonia" is a wonderful book.
Colleen Chi-Girl
I think of Willa as an old-fashioned name. I am over 50, and besides hearing of Willa Cather, the author, I've met two Willa's in my lifetime. I think of it as the female form of William but haven't checked! I really love the name.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more