US Name Trends

Willis

English surname, “son of Will,” from William.

1924peak year
No. 86best rank (1880)
53,154babies since 1880
outside top 1000 in 2025

Popularity, 1880–2025

Babies named Willis per year — peak 1,261▬ girls ▬ boys18801900192019401960198020002020

Willis appears in the national records from the very first year, 1880. It has ranked among the top 100 names for American boys in 3 different years between 1880 and 1884. Its biggest year was 1924, when 1,261 newborn boys received the name, ranking it No. 136 nationally. Its best ranking came in 1880, at No. 86. All told, 53,154 Americans have been given the name since 1880.

Related names

Other names that share a story: William, Will

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By the decade

DecadeBirthsBest rank
1880s1,388No. 86
1890s1,331No. 112
1900s1,468No. 134
1910s7,339No. 131
1920s11,704No. 133
1930s8,191No. 159
1940s6,161No. 201
1950s4,586No. 309
1960s3,058No. 389
1970s2,213No. 500
1980s1,923No. 570
1990s1,232No. 804
2000s752No. 1241
2010s660No. 1828
2020s330No. 2212

Births and rank shown for boys, the sex more often given the name. The Social Security Administration omits name–year combinations with fewer than five births.

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Data: U.S. Social Security Administration national baby-name file, 1880–2025.