Meaning & History
Hilma is a female given name primarily used in Finland and Sweden. It is a variant of Helma, which is itself a short form of Wilhelmina, the Dutch and German feminine form of Wilhelm, the German cognate of William. Ultimately, Hilma can be traced back to the Germanic elements wil (will, desire) and helm (helmet, protection), thus giving the name a meaning of “will-helmet” or “resolute protection.” Alternatively, Hilma can also be considered a feminine form of the male name Hilmar or Hilmer, though the connection to Wilhelmina is more documented.
Sources: Wikipedia — Hilma