Willis
Meaningson of Will · English
- US rank
- #2,539
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #86 in 1880
52 babies were named Willis in the US in 2025. It has dropped 327 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Willis you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 32,895 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Willis, 52 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Willis would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryWillis has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Williss, and counting.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1880, when it ranked #86. Today it's #2,539, so it could be due a comeback.
- TrendWillis has slipped 327 places over the last five years and now sits at #2,539. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- MeaningIn English, Willis means “son of Will”.
About the name Willis
Willis is a boy name meaning “son of Will”. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with W and ending in “-lis”. US birth records list Willis for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 146 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1880, when it ranked #86 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #2,539, with 52 babies.
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 1,268 | 789 boys |
| 1890s | 1,168 | 856 boys |
| 1900s | 1,080 | 926 boys |
| 1910s | 1,095 | 913 boys |
| 1920s | 1,062 | 941 boys |
| 1930s | 777 | 1,287 boys |
| 1940s | 427 | 2,342 boys |
| 1950s | 228 | 4,379 boys |
| 1960s | 157 | 6,360 boys |
| 1970s | 134 | 7,481 boys |
| 1980s | 105 | 9,564 boys |
| 1990s | 63 | 15,863 boys |
| 2000s | 38 | 26,518 boys |
| 2010s | 35 | 28,547 boys |
| 2020s | 32 | 31,414 boys |
Questions about the name Willis
What does the name Willis mean?
Willis means “son of Will” in English.
Is Willis a boy or girl name?
Willis is a boy name.
How popular is the name Willis?
Willis ranked #2,539 for US boys in 2025, given to 52 babies. Its best year was 1880 (#86).