Wallis Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: WALL-iss /ˈwɒl.ɪs/
Origin: English; Welsh
Meaning: English: foreign; Welsh: from the Welsh place name
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Wallis has its roots in the Old French term "walis," which means "foreigner" or "Welshman." This term itself is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "walhaz," which referred to the Celtic peoples and was used by the Germanic tribes to describe those who spoke a different language. The name made its way into Middle English as "Wallis," denoting a person from Wales or of Welsh descent.
This linguistic evolution reflects the historical interactions between the Welsh and the Anglo-Saxon settlers in Britain, particularly during the early medieval period. Historically, the name Wallis is associated with notable figures, including Sir William Wallis, a Scottish knight and landowner who became a national hero for his role in the Wars of Scottish Independence in the late 13th century.
His legacy was immortalized in the 15th-century epic poem "The Wallace" by Blind Harry, which contributed to the romanticized view of his life and exploits. The name also appears in various historical documents and records throughout the centuries, often linked to the nobility and landowners in Wales and England.
Culturally, the name Wallis carries connotations of strength and resilience, often associated with the valor of its historical bearers. It has been used in literature and popular culture, further embedding it within the cultural consciousness.
The name's association with Welsh heritage also lends it a sense of identity tied to the rich traditions and history of Wales. Additionally, diminutive forms such as "Wally" have emerged, reflecting a more informal and affectionate usage of the name in various contexts.
Famous people named Wallis
In this section, you will find notable people named Wallis. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Wallis who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Wallis who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Wallis Simpson is best known for her relationship with King Edward VIII and her role in the abdication crisis of 1936.
Wallis Beery is a film actor best known for The Champ, The Last of the Mohicans, and The Big House.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Wallis, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Wallis. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Wallis was first seen in the United States in 1911.
Wallis has ranked as high as #1795 nationally, which occurred in 1937, and has been most popular in New York.
In the past 5 years the name Wallis has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Wallis is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Wallis was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Wallis.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 2024 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 2023 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 2022 | 20 | 0 | 20 |
| 2021 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 2020 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 2019 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 2018 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 2017 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 2016 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 2015 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 2014 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 2013 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 2012 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 2005 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 2004 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2001 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 2000 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1999 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1998 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1997 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1995 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1994 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1993 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1991 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1990 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1989 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1988 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1986 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1985 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1983 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1982 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1981 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1980 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1977 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1972 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1971 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1969 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1968 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1966 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1963 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1962 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1961 | 13 | 6 | 7 |
| 1958 | 14 | 8 | 6 |
| 1957 | 15 | 8 | 7 |
| 1956 | 16 | 8 | 8 |
| 1955 | 15 | 9 | 6 |
| 1954 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1953 | 25 | 13 | 12 |
| 1952 | 20 | 7 | 13 |
| 1951 | 23 | 11 | 12 |
| 1950 | 21 | 10 | 11 |
| 1949 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1948 | 19 | 10 | 9 |
| 1947 | 26 | 11 | 15 |
| 1946 | 16 | 7 | 9 |
| 1945 | 26 | 12 | 14 |
| 1944 | 31 | 14 | 17 |
| 1943 | 21 | 9 | 12 |
| 1942 | 28 | 8 | 20 |
| 1941 | 32 | 12 | 20 |
| 1940 | 48 | 26 | 22 |
| 1939 | 31 | 12 | 19 |
| 1938 | 33 | 19 | 14 |
| 1937 | 50 | 17 | 33 |
| 1936 | 28 | 22 | 6 |
| 1935 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1934 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1932 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1931 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1930 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1929 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1928 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1927 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1926 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1925 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| 1924 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1923 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1922 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1921 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1920 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1919 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1918 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 1917 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1916 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1915 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1914 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1913 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1911 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
Top States for Wallis (1982)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| NY | 5 |