Wil
Meaningresolute protector · English form of William
- US rank
- #12,008
- Syllables
- 1
- Peak
- #2,090 in 1988
5 babies were named Wil in the US in 2025. It has dropped 2,454 places in five years.
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1953–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Wil you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 344,828 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Wil, 5 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Wil would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryWil first shows up in US birth records in 1953, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 72 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1988, when it ranked #2,090. Today it's #12,008, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowWil was 7.0× more common in 2000 than it is today. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 49,020 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 344,828.
- TrendWil has slipped 2,454 places over the last five years and now sits at #12,008. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- MeaningWil is an English form of William, which means “resolute protector”.
About the name Wil
Wil is a boy name of English origin meaning “resolute protector”. It has 3 letters and 1 syllable, starting with W and ending in “-wil”. US birth records list Wil for boys from 1953 to 2025, in 60 of those 73 years. Its best year was 1988, when it ranked #2,090 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #12,008, with 5 babies.
Origin:English names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0.4 | 2,800,000 boys |
| 1960s | 1.6 | 609,756 boys |
| 1970s | 3.8 | 265,252 boys |
| 1980s | 6.7 | 149,701 boys |
| 1990s | 16 | 62,344 boys |
| 2000s | 18 | 55,741 boys |
| 2010s | 8.1 | 123,609 boys |
| 2020s | 4.4 | 229,885 boys |
Other spellings of Wil
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
Questions about the name Wil
What does the name Wil mean?
Wil means “resolute protector” in English, as a form of William.
What is the origin of the name Wil?
Wil has English roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Wil a boy or girl name?
Wil is a boy name.
How popular is the name Wil?
Wil ranked #12,008 for US boys in 2025, given to 5 babies. Its best year was 1988 (#2,090).