Willis

Willis - A very unique male name

Willis appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #149. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Willis and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Willis? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Willis. The baby boy name Willis was given to 14 baby boys in 2024, ranking #2848 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 105,466 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Willis peaked in popularity 107 years ago in 1919 on position 131.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Willis, 1-5?

Willis is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Willis is currently topping the baby name charts in Ohio at position #1,023 - and is the least popular in Texas at position #2,582.

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 Willis is where you live.

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Willis origin and meaning

English surname

A surname from a pet form of William — Germanic wil 'will' + helm 'helmet'

Willis is Will turned surname, then given name, steady for a century before peaking in 1924. Its 43,387 births end with a 2020 ranking and no 2025 row.

Attested etymology

Willis is a 6 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Willis, pop culture references for the name Willis and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Willis

We've found the following names that sound similar to Willis, sorted by popularity.

Wallace / Wells / Wilgus / Wilkie / Welles / Wilkes /

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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)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Willis

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 Willis 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 Willis?

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.

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Pronunciation

WIL-iss · /ˈwɪlɪs/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Willie — The nickname form used as a name

Nicknames: Will

Famous bearers

• Willis Reed — Hall of Fame basketball centre for the New York Knicks (1942–2023) Contemporary

Style

Surname

Why parents choose it

A mellow, unhurried name with a beloved basketball namesake, now retired from newborn use.

Worth knowing

• 'What you talkin' 'bout, Willis?' from Diff'rent Strokes is a lingering catchphrase