Willis Boy

Popularity: #886 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: WILL-iss //ˈwɪlɪs//

Origin: English; German

Meaning: English: resolute protector; German: son of Will

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Willis has its roots in the Old Germanic name "Willa," which means "desire" or "will." This name evolved into various forms as it spread through different cultures and languages. In Old High German, the name appeared as "Willi," which was a diminutive form of names beginning with "Wil," such as Wilhelm.

The name made its way into English through the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, where it was adopted in the form of "Willis," often as a surname derived from the given name William, which itself means "resolute protector." Historically, the name Willis has been associated with notable figures and events. One significant milestone is its appearance in English records during the medieval period, where it was used both as a first name and a surname.

The name was also borne by various English nobles and landowners, contributing to its recognition in historical texts. In the 16th century, the name gained further prominence through the works of writers and poets, who often used it in their compositions, reflecting the cultural significance of names during the Renaissance.

Culturally, the name Willis has resonated through its associations with strength and determination, qualities that are often linked to its etymological roots. The name has also been used in various literary and artistic contexts, symbolizing a steadfast character.

Additionally, diminutive forms such as Will or Willy have emerged, further embedding the name within the cultural fabric of English-speaking societies. Overall, the name Willis carries a rich historical and cultural legacy, reflecting its evolution from ancient Germanic origins to its place in English history.

Famous people named Willis

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

We also feature individuals named Willis 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.

Willis Reed is a former professional basketball player best known for his time with the New York Knicks and winning two NBA championships.

Willis Tower is a skyscraper in Chicago, formerly known as the Sears Tower, recognized as one of the tallest buildings in the United States.

Fictional characters named Willis

The following list of fictional characters named Willis 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.

Willis is a fictional character from the TV show Diff'rent Strokes. He is one of the main characters, known for his humorous and supportive personality as the older brother to Arnold.

Sibling suggestions

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

WilliamWalterWinstonWesleyWyattWhitney

Similar names

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

WileyWendellWilburWaylonWarrenWesleyWinston

U.S. Historical Usage

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

Willis has ranked as high as #312 nationally, which occurred in 1924, and has been most popular in Texas, North Carolina, Ohio, Georgia, and Pennsylvania.

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

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Willis 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 Willis 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 Willis.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 52 52 0
2024 50 50 0
2023 60 60 0
2022 44 44 0
2021 62 62 0
2020 62 62 0
2019 50 50 0
2018 55 55 0
2017 51 51 0
2016 70 70 0
2015 74 74 0
2014 81 81 0
2013 75 75 0
2012 78 78 0
2011 74 74 0
2010 52 52 0
2009 66 66 0
2008 59 59 0
2007 80 80 0
2006 79 79 0
2005 66 66 0
2004 65 65 0
2003 78 78 0
2002 70 70 0
2001 82 82 0
2000 107 107 0
1999 109 109 0
1998 106 106 0
1997 95 95 0
1996 113 113 0
1995 115 115 0
1994 119 119 0
1993 127 127 0
1992 126 126 0
1991 163 163 0
1990 159 159 0
1989 171 166 5
1988 183 183 0
1987 169 169 0
1986 176 176 0
1985 186 186 0
1984 186 186 0
1983 203 203 0
1982 227 227 0
1981 199 199 0
1980 228 228 0
1979 233 233 0
1978 214 214 0
1977 232 232 0
1976 181 181 0
1975 203 203 0
1974 199 199 0
1973 193 193 0
1972 245 245 0
1971 253 253 0
1970 260 260 0
1969 227 227 0
1968 230 230 0
1967 237 237 0
1966 254 254 0
1965 305 300 5
1964 324 324 0
1963 349 340 9
1962 375 375 0
1961 365 357 8
1960 414 414 0
1959 412 407 5
1958 416 416 0
1957 455 447 8
1956 457 444 13
1955 462 452 10
1954 452 447 5
1953 486 480 6
1952 519 513 6
1951 520 504 16
1950 487 476 11
1949 484 479 5
1948 590 584 6
1947 611 600 11
1946 602 584 18
1945 584 579 5
1944 631 623 8
1943 770 752 18
1942 679 666 13
1941 696 685 11
1940 614 609 5
1939 705 693 12
1938 744 731 13
1937 745 724 21
1936 785 768 17
1935 811 789 22
1934 886 867 19
1933 829 812 17
1932 932 911 21
1931 952 931 21
1930 983 965 18
1929 1,050 1,030 20
1928 1,106 1,085 21
1927 1,087 1,058 29
1926 1,264 1,233 31
1925 1,221 1,198 23
1924 1,276 1,261 15
1923 1,215 1,183 32
1922 1,275 1,250 25
1921 1,234 1,209 25
1920 1,216 1,197 19
1919 1,165 1,136 29
1918 1,108 1,091 17
1917 979 954 25
1916 1,009 990 19
1915 965 950 15
1914 752 743 9
1913 583 573 10
1912 464 453 11
1911 247 233 14
1910 223 216 7
1909 200 189 11
1908 168 161 7
1907 146 146 0
1906 148 148 0
1905 136 136 0
1904 136 136 0
1903 133 133 0
1902 144 144 0
1901 115 106 9
1900 169 169 0
1899 133 126 7
1898 121 121 0
1897 132 132 0
1896 145 145 0
1895 135 135 0
1894 133 133 0
1893 149 149 0
1892 143 143 0
1891 118 118 0
1890 129 129 0
1889 124 124 0
1888 135 135 0
1887 118 113 5
1886 150 150 0
1885 133 133 0
1884 151 151 0
1883 131 131 0
1882 143 143 0
1881 142 142 0
1880 166 166 0

Top States for Willis (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
OH 8
57%
TX 6
43%