Willard Boy
Origin(s)
PronunciationWIL-ard / /ˈwɪl.ərd/English; Old German
Meaning
English: resolute protector; Old German: will, desire
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Willard has roots in both English and Old German traditions. It was used as a surname before becoming popular as a first name. The name gained some popularity in the United States during the 19th century. It is often associated with strength and determination due to its meaning.
Trend Summary
Willard has seen a decline in popularity in the United States since the mid-20th century.
Similar Names
Variants
- Will
- Willy
International Variants
- Guillermo (Spanish)
- Wilhelm (German)
Famous people named Willard
Willard Scott was an American television personality and weatherman, known for his work on the Today Show.
Willard Van Orman Quine was an influential American philosopher and logician.
Willard Mitt Romney is an American politician and businessman, known for being the Republican nominee for President in 2012.
Willard Wigan is a British artist known for creating incredibly small sculptures.
Fictional characters named Willard
Willard is a character in the film 'Willard', which features a young man who befriends and trains rats.
Willard Decker is a character in the 'Star Trek: The Motion Picture', serving as a Starfleet officer.
Sibling Suggestions
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Willard was first seen in the United States in 1880. Willard has ranked as high as #133 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)
Top States for Willard (2024)
State | Births | Share |
---|---|---|
IA | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
Year | Births |
---|---|
1880 | 88 |
1881 | 94 |
1882 | 83 |
1883 | 92 |
1884 | 89 |
1885 | 95 |
1886 | 80 |
1887 | 95 |
1888 | 123 |
1889 | 100 |
1890 | 89 |
1891 | 101 |
1892 | 121 |
1893 | 118 |
1894 | 122 |
1895 | 113 |
1896 | 152 |
1897 | 143 |
1898 | 137 |
1899 | 144 |
1900 | 172 |
1901 | 136 |
1902 | 164 |
1903 | 162 |
1904 | 180 |
1905 | 180 |
1906 | 178 |
1907 | 201 |
1908 | 229 |
1909 | 219 |
1910 | 265 |
1911 | 338 |
1912 | 718 |
1913 | 926 |
1914 | 1,302 |
1915 | 2,889 |
1916 | 2,413 |
1917 | 2,188 |
1918 | 2,311 |
1919 | 2,014 |
1920 | 2,089 |
1921 | 2,077 |
1922 | 2,017 |
1923 | 1,945 |
1924 | 1,834 |
1925 | 1,795 |
1926 | 1,810 |
1927 | 1,734 |
1928 | 1,628 |
1929 | 1,511 |
1930 | 1,537 |
1931 | 1,376 |
1932 | 1,357 |
1933 | 1,283 |
1934 | 1,174 |
1935 | 1,214 |
1936 | 1,157 |
1937 | 1,163 |
1938 | 1,095 |
1939 | 1,103 |
1940 | 1,140 |
1941 | 1,085 |
1942 | 1,191 |
1943 | 1,231 |
1944 | 1,039 |
1945 | 957 |
1946 | 1,057 |
1947 | 1,025 |
1948 | 950 |
1949 | 927 |
1950 | 841 |
1951 | 778 |
1952 | 799 |
1953 | 767 |
1954 | 676 |
1955 | 723 |
1956 | 654 |
1957 | 636 |
1958 | 586 |
1959 | 573 |
1960 | 542 |
1961 | 506 |
1962 | 460 |
1963 | 497 |
1964 | 438 |
1965 | 413 |
1966 | 389 |
1967 | 394 |
1968 | 339 |
1969 | 311 |
1970 | 350 |
1971 | 306 |
1972 | 284 |
1973 | 220 |
1974 | 198 |
1975 | 229 |
1976 | 177 |
1977 | 172 |
1978 | 155 |
1979 | 171 |
1980 | 164 |
1981 | 136 |
1982 | 130 |
1983 | 128 |
1984 | 103 |
1985 | 105 |
1986 | 111 |
1987 | 117 |
1988 | 99 |
1989 | 113 |
1990 | 91 |
1991 | 81 |
1992 | 89 |
1993 | 76 |
1994 | 72 |
1995 | 83 |
1996 | 67 |
1997 | 66 |
1998 | 64 |
1999 | 59 |
2000 | 60 |
2001 | 61 |
2002 | 64 |
2003 | 59 |
2004 | 63 |
2005 | 60 |
2006 | 55 |
2007 | 48 |
2008 | 57 |
2009 | 40 |
2010 | 49 |
2011 | 36 |
2012 | 47 |
2013 | 31 |
2014 | 35 |
2015 | 44 |
2016 | 47 |
2017 | 55 |
2018 | 50 |
2019 | 46 |
2020 | 44 |
2021 | 28 |
2022 | 41 |
2023 | 43 |
2024 | 41 |