Willard Boy

Popularity: #891 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: WIL-ard //ˈwɪl.ərd//

Origin: English; Old German

Meaning: English: resolute protector; Old German: will, desire

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Willard has its roots in Old English, derived from the elements "wil," meaning "will" or "desire," and "hard," meaning "brave" or "strong." This combination suggests a meaning akin to "resolute protector" or "strong-willed." The name evolved through various forms, with its earliest occurrences appearing in medieval England. It was recorded in the 12th century as "Willehard," which later transformed into the more recognizable Willard by the 17th century.

The transition into modern English reflects both the phonetic shifts and the simplification of names that occurred during this period. Historically, the name Willard is associated with notable figures, particularly in American history.

One prominent example is Willard Van Orman Quine, a 20th-century philosopher whose contributions to logic and philosophy have had a lasting impact. Additionally, the name appears in various historical documents and records, including those from the colonial period in America, where it was borne by several early settlers and landowners.

The name's presence in early American history contributes to its significance in the cultural narrative of the United States. Culturally, Willard has been embraced in various contexts, often symbolizing strength and determination.

The name has been used in literature and popular culture, reinforcing its association with resilient characters. Furthermore, diminutive forms such as Will or Willie have emerged, providing a more familiar and affectionate alternative while maintaining the original's essence.

Overall, the name Willard carries a rich historical and cultural legacy, reflecting its Old English origins and the enduring qualities it represents.

Famous people named Willard

In this section, you will find notable people named Willard. 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 Willard who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Willard 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.

Willard Scott is a television personality best known for The Today Show and as the original Ronald McDonald.

Willard Van Orman Quine is a philosopher and logician best known for Word and Object and his work on the indeterminacy of translation.

Fictional characters named Willard

The following list of fictional characters named Willard is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Willard Stiles is a fictional character from the film Willard. He is a troubled young man who befriends and trains a group of rats to exact revenge on those who have wronged him.

Willard is a fictional character from the novel and film adaptation of Willard. He is a socially awkward man who develops a bond with rats, leading to dark consequences in his life.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Willard, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

WilliamWalterWinstonWesleyWhitneyWaylon

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Willard. 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.

WilburWilderWinstonWillemWendellWilfredWileyWylie

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Willard was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Willard has ranked as high as #134 nationally, which occurred in 1915, and has been most popular in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, and New York.

In the past 5 years the name Willard has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Willard 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 Willard 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 Willard.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 47 47 0
2024 42 42 0
2023 43 43 0
2022 41 41 0
2021 29 29 0
2020 44 44 0
2019 46 46 0
2018 50 50 0
2017 55 55 0
2016 47 47 0
2015 44 44 0
2014 35 35 0
2013 31 31 0
2012 47 47 0
2011 36 36 0
2010 49 49 0
2009 40 40 0
2008 57 57 0
2007 48 48 0
2006 56 56 0
2005 60 60 0
2004 63 63 0
2003 59 59 0
2002 64 64 0
2001 61 61 0
2000 60 60 0
1999 59 59 0
1998 64 64 0
1997 66 66 0
1996 67 67 0
1995 83 83 0
1994 72 72 0
1993 76 76 0
1992 89 89 0
1991 81 81 0
1990 91 91 0
1989 113 113 0
1988 99 99 0
1987 117 117 0
1986 111 111 0
1985 105 105 0
1984 103 103 0
1983 128 128 0
1982 130 130 0
1981 136 136 0
1980 164 164 0
1979 171 171 0
1978 155 155 0
1977 172 172 0
1976 177 177 0
1975 229 229 0
1974 198 198 0
1973 220 220 0
1972 284 284 0
1971 306 306 0
1970 350 350 0
1969 316 311 5
1968 344 339 5
1967 400 394 6
1966 388 388 0
1965 413 413 0
1964 438 438 0
1963 497 497 0
1962 460 460 0
1961 513 506 7
1960 548 543 5
1959 572 572 0
1958 586 586 0
1957 636 636 0
1956 659 654 5
1955 723 723 0
1954 682 676 6
1953 773 767 6
1952 805 799 6
1951 778 778 0
1950 846 841 5
1949 935 927 8
1948 950 950 0
1947 1,032 1,025 7
1946 1,057 1,057 0
1945 963 957 6
1944 1,049 1,040 9
1943 1,238 1,231 7
1942 1,201 1,191 10
1941 1,094 1,085 9
1940 1,150 1,140 10
1939 1,111 1,103 8
1938 1,106 1,095 11
1937 1,177 1,163 14
1936 1,168 1,157 11
1935 1,227 1,214 13
1934 1,186 1,175 11
1933 1,301 1,283 18
1932 1,369 1,357 12
1931 1,401 1,376 25
1930 1,558 1,537 21
1929 1,532 1,511 21
1928 1,641 1,628 13
1927 1,765 1,734 31
1926 1,835 1,810 25
1925 1,824 1,795 29
1924 1,860 1,834 26
1923 1,968 1,945 23
1922 2,041 2,017 24
1921 2,106 2,077 29
1920 2,120 2,089 31
1919 2,047 2,014 33
1918 2,354 2,311 43
1917 2,229 2,188 41
1916 2,445 2,413 32
1915 2,924 2,889 35
1914 1,330 1,302 28
1913 946 926 20
1912 737 718 19
1911 353 338 15
1910 275 265 10
1909 232 219 13
1908 238 229 9
1907 207 201 6
1906 189 178 11
1905 194 180 14
1904 188 180 8
1903 170 162 8
1902 164 164 0
1901 136 136 0
1900 181 172 9
1899 151 144 7
1898 142 137 5
1897 143 143 0
1896 152 152 0
1895 113 113 0
1894 122 122 0
1893 118 118 0
1892 121 121 0
1891 101 101 0
1890 89 89 0
1889 100 100 0
1888 123 123 0
1887 95 95 0
1886 80 80 0
1885 95 95 0
1884 89 89 0
1883 92 92 0
1882 83 83 0
1881 94 94 0
1880 88 88 0

Top States for Willard (2024)

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
IA 5
100%