Willard - A very unique male name
Willard at a glance
Willard is ranked #3770 among boy baby names in 2025, with 6 births in 2025. It peaked in 1915 at #58 and first appeared on the charts in 1910.
- Rank in 2025
- #3770
- Births in 2025
- 6
- Peak year
- 1915 (#58)
- First appeared
- 1910
- Trend
- #3080 in 2020 → #3770 in 2025 (Falling)
- Popularity
- 1 in 244,381 boys
- Visitor rating
- 5.0/5 (1 recent votes)
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration · Data through 2025 · Updated 2026
With that position 1 in 244,381 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Willard peaked in popularity 111 years ago in 1915 on position 58.
Famous with this name
Fred Willard
Willard Huyck
Willard Robertson
How would you rate Willard, 1-5?
Willard is currently topping the charts in...
Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Willard is currently topping the baby name charts in Utah at position #700 - and is the least popular in Utah at position #700.Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Willard is where you live.
Comment and discuss
Willard origin and meaning
Germanic
From Germanic Willihard: wil, 'will, desire,' plus hard, 'brave, resolute'
Willard is an old Germanic name that came through Norman use into English and was common in early America, peaking in 1915. It has receded for a century and recorded just 6 births in 2025. The weatherman Willard Scott, who died in 2021, is a contemporary-era bearer under the post-2000 rule.
Attested etymology
Willard is a 7 letter name with 2 syllables.
To see famous people named Willard, pop culture references for the name Willard and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.Similar to Willard
We've found the following names that sound similar to Willard, sorted by popularity.
Williard /Name statistics
Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better
understanding of how popular or unique this name is.
With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually
differ a lot from state to state.
Chart position per year (visualized)
Chart position per state (visualized)
Chart position per year (table view)
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 3770 |
| 2024 | 4338 |
| 2020 | 3080 |
| 2017 | 4292 |
| 2015 | 4389 |
| 2011 | 3758 |
| 2008 | 2630 |
| 2006 | 4288 |
| 2004 | 2974 |
| 2003 | 2200 |
| 2002 | 2026 |
| 2001 | 3910 |
| 2000 | 2175 |
| 1999 | 2509 |
| 1997 | 2109 |
| 1996 | 2194 |
| 1995 | 1467 |
| 1994 | 2354 |
| 1993 | 1704 |
| 1992 | 1319 |
| 1991 | 1963 |
| 1990 | 1638 |
| 1989 | 1290 |
| 1988 | 1275 |
| 1987 | 918 |
| 1986 | 973 |
| 1985 | 1064 |
| 1984 | 980 |
| 1983 | 744 |
| 1982 | 814 |
| 1981 | 841 |
| 1980 | 708 |
| 1979 | 689 |
| 1978 | 649 |
| 1977 | 638 |
| 1976 | 645 |
| 1975 | 535 |
| 1974 | 576 |
| 1973 | 560 |
| 1972 | 479 |
| 1971 | 477 |
| 1970 | 441 |
| 1969 | 448 |
| 1968 | 416 |
| 1967 | 384 |
| 1966 | 384 |
| 1965 | 381 |
| 1964 | 374 |
| 1963 | 353 |
| 1962 | 374 |
| 1961 | 349 |
| 1960 | 336 |
| 1959 | 328 |
| 1958 | 318 |
| 1957 | 299 |
| 1956 | 290 |
| 1955 | 260 |
| 1954 | 270 |
| 1953 | 248 |
| 1952 | 235 |
| 1951 | 243 |
| 1950 | 220 |
| 1949 | 209 |
| 1948 | 207 |
| 1947 | 197 |
| 1946 | 177 |
| 1945 | 173 |
| 1944 | 168 |
| 1943 | 159 |
| 1942 | 159 |
| 1941 | 159 |
| 1940 | 151 |
| 1939 | 147 |
| 1938 | 148 |
| 1937 | 134 |
| 1936 | 137 |
| 1935 | 132 |
| 1934 | 136 |
| 1933 | 130 |
| 1932 | 126 |
| 1931 | 122 |
| 1930 | 117 |
| 1929 | 114 |
| 1928 | 113 |
| 1927 | 106 |
| 1926 | 100 |
| 1925 | 97 |
| 1924 | 97 |
| 1923 | 92 |
| 1922 | 90 |
| 1921 | 89 |
| 1920 | 88 |
| 1919 | 87 |
| 1918 | 83 |
| 1917 | 80 |
| 1916 | 69 |
| 1915 | 58 |
| 1914 | 92 |
| 1913 | 98 |
| 1912 | 104 |
| 1911 | 110 |
| 1910 | 126 |
Chart position per state (table view)
| State | Rank |
|---|---|
| Utah | 700 |
Even more about Willard
These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.
Is Willard a common or unique name?
By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.What is the number of syllables for the name Willard?
2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.Pronunciation
WIL-erd · /ˈwɪlərd/
Around the world
No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.
Spellings and nicknames
Nicknames: WillWillie
Famous bearers
- Willard Scott — American television weatherman and original Ronald McDonald performer (1934–2021) Contemporary
Style
ClassicVintage revival
Why parents choose it
Willard is a serious vintage-revival gamble — distinguished and very far out of fashion.
Worth knowing
- Strongly dated; the genial 'grandpa name' reaction is near-universal.
