Willie

#10,107 for girls in 2025, 9 births · #1,315 for boys in 2025, 147 births
Given to boys 75.5% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
1910 · 2,897 births
Debut · boys
476 births
In top 100 · boys
89 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · boys
450,188
since 1880

Willie over time

girlsboys

Rank within each sex, plotted together. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201978peak #54, 1909peak #11, 1910girlsboys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#10,1079#1,315147
2024#13,4776#1,364138
2023#13,4626#1,323144
2022#9,68010#1,166176
2021—#1,200161
2020—#992215
2019#15,5395#1,004208
2018#15,6825#929228
2017#15,9025#802285
2016—#797294
2015—#774307
2014—#725331
2013#16,5475#707332
2012—#646369
2011—#614390
2010—#626388
2009#17,2945#621401
2008—#565460
2007#15,4916#547470
2006—#511507
2005—#511481
2004—#497492
2003—#451559
2002—#437569
2001—#412608
2000#11,8017#407610
1999—#385668
1998#10,1228#354739
1997#9,8028#335774
1996#7,57411#327800
1995#7,51411#317824
1994#5,44517#291941
1993#4,10025#2721,062
1992#4,52822#2371,212
1991#6,25314#2241,319
1990#5,54916#2211,377
1989#2,87938#2021,460
1988#2,93135#1911,427
1987#2,43442#1861,479
1986#2,62037#1781,490
1985#2,74934#1711,574
1984#1,92254#1661,606
1983#2,15645#1551,763
1982#1,90056#1441,959
1981#1,95854#1411,967
1980#1,74963#1302,167
1979#1,77061#1252,153
1978#1,59867#1212,135
1977#1,68262#1242,163
1976#1,30783#1212,132
1975#1,25889#1172,174
1974#1,107105#1192,223
1973#995119#1092,391
1972#937131#1092,596
1971#938137#1152,862
1970#823167#1033,137
1969#720195#1013,048
1968#678205#963,109
1967#612241#923,391
1966#570280#933,546
1965#522334#933,807
1964#479406#904,148
1963#478407#934,194
1962#444469#894,541
1961#440504#864,790
1960#391590#815,238
1959#379632#785,374
1958#347698#705,693
1957#326785#636,211
1956#289931#586,525
1955#282933#546,629
1954#2431,111#536,832
1953#2361,157#497,056
1952#2281,198#487,197
1951#2151,276#457,226
1950#2011,338#427,717
1949#1791,532#417,916
1948#1681,667#407,971
1947#1731,683#427,997
1946#1591,687#407,339
1945#1371,777#317,030
1944#1381,894#317,195
1943#1381,994#367,178
1942#1332,067#377,094
1941#1361,860#366,526
1940#1281,937#356,176
1939#1261,952#336,308
1938#1212,019#346,081
1937#1142,194#326,231
1936#1082,224#326,011
1935#992,370#306,327
1934#1012,388#306,348
1933#932,449#325,983
1932#902,662#316,547
1931#932,597#315,963
1930#873,018#296,667
1929#763,318#296,616
1928#743,444#296,817
1927#713,884#276,969
1926#733,817#286,820
1925#683,947#277,124
1924#683,992#306,700
1923#673,963#306,665
1922#703,885#286,903
1921#743,748#346,492
1920#743,816#296,887
1919#614,051#236,942
1918#703,867#296,537
1917#723,381#315,751
1916#733,116#305,660
1915#723,041#305,434
1914#662,759#254,709
1913#652,264#243,760
1912#612,267#223,508
1911#611,637#142,492
1910#561,796#112,897
1909#541,549#132,175
1908#591,371#131,964
1907#561,394#131,968
1906#591,233#131,756
1905#591,285#131,782
1904#611,188#141,675
1903#671,014#141,454
1902#641,071#141,565
1901#68901#161,294
1900#581,351#142,113
1899#73806#181,088
1898#71878#181,134
1897#70818#181,151
1896#76755#181,092
1895#78724#181,071
1894#75709#19986
1893#77648#19882
1892#78631#19948
1891#78562#21739
1890#77578#23758
1889#85488#26708
1888#79522#24786
1887#88379#27590
1886#88388#28641
1885#95312#29614
1884#93332#31578
1883#96264#34474
1882#88291#31541
1881#94229#30498
1880#105192#34476
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Willie was already there! It came in at #34, and was given to 476 baby boys.


Quietest stretch: 2021–2025, when fewer than 180 boys a year got the name.

Where Willie is popular in 1978

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: #128 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 668 boysAKMaine: fewer than 5 boys named Willie, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 boys named Willie, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 boys named Willie, so not publishedNHWashington: #352 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 3,825 boysWAIdaho: fewer than 5 boys named Willie, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 boys named Willie, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Willie, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #254 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 3,274 boysMNIllinois: #100 for boys · 136 births · 1 in 584 boysILWisconsin: #184 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 1,785 boysWIMichigan: #130 for boys · 70 births · 1 in 918 boysMINew York: #177 for boys · 98 births · 1 in 1,125 boysNYMassachusetts: #240 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 3,014 boysMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Willie, so not publishedRIOregon: fewer than 5 boys named Willie, so not publishedORNevada: #143 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 825 boysNVWyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Willie, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Willie, so not publishedSDIowa: #303 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 4,217 boysIAIndiana: #145 for boys · 34 births · 1 in 1,156 boysINOhio: #137 for boys · 75 births · 1 in 1,028 boysOHPennsylvania: #214 for boys · 33 births · 1 in 2,223 boysPANew Jersey: #160 for boys · 37 births · 1 in 1,118 boysNJConnecticut: #146 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 1,028 boysCTCalifornia: #231 for boys · 113 births · 1 in 1,495 boysCAUtah: #253 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 2,234 boysUTColorado: #343 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 3,355 boysCONebraska: fewer than 5 boys named Willie, so not publishedNEMissouri: #150 for boys · 32 births · 1 in 1,093 boysMOKentucky: #134 for boys · 30 births · 1 in 910 boysKYWest Virginia: #166 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 1,366 boysWVVirginia: #112 for boys · 49 births · 1 in 653 boysVAMaryland: #231 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 1,940 boysMDDelaware: fewer than 5 boys named Willie, so not publishedDEArizona: #345 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 2,712 boysAZNew Mexico: #246 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 1,262 boysNMKansas: #250 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 2,226 boysKSArkansas: #88 for boys · 38 births · 1 in 388 boysARTennessee: #78 for boys · 79 births · 1 in 404 boysTNNorth Carolina: #69 for boys · 113 births · 1 in 329 boysNCSouth Carolina: #54 for boys · 86 births · 1 in 238 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #60 for boys · 29 births · 1 in 265 boysDCOklahoma: #159 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 1,103 boysOKLouisiana: #66 for boys · 106 births · 1 in 312 boysLAMississippi: #27 for boys · 144 births · 1 in 128 boysMSAlabama: #38 for boys · 149 births · 1 in 173 boysALGeorgia: #45 for boys · 164 births · 1 in 230 boysGAHawaii: fewer than 5 boys named Willie, so not publishedHITexas: #160 for boys · 150 births · 1 in 767 boysTXFlorida: #49 for boys · 199 births · 1 in 256 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Mississippi#27 · 1 in 128
  2. Alabama#38 · 1 in 173
  3. Georgia#45 · 1 in 230
  4. Florida#49 · 1 in 256
  5. South Carolina#54 · 1 in 238

Best ever in a state: #2 in Georgia, 1910.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Mississippi#271441 in 128
Alabama#381491 in 173
Georgia#451641 in 230
Florida#491991 in 256
South Carolina#54861 in 238
District of Columbia#60291 in 265
Louisiana#661061 in 312
North Carolina#691131 in 329
Tennessee#78791 in 404
Arkansas#88381 in 388
Illinois#1001361 in 584
Virginia#112491 in 653
Alaska#12851 in 668
Michigan#130701 in 918
Kentucky#134301 in 910
Ohio#137751 in 1,028
Nevada#14351 in 825
Indiana#145341 in 1,156
Connecticut#146161 in 1,028
Missouri#150321 in 1,093
Oklahoma#159181 in 1,103
New Jersey#160371 in 1,118
Texas#1601501 in 767
West Virginia#166101 in 1,366
New York#177981 in 1,125
Wisconsin#184181 in 1,785
Pennsylvania#214331 in 2,223
California#2311131 in 1,495
Maryland#231111 in 1,940
Massachusetts#240111 in 3,014
New Mexico#24681 in 1,262
Kansas#25071 in 2,226
Utah#25381 in 2,234
Minnesota#25491 in 3,274
Iowa#30351 in 4,217
Colorado#34361 in 3,355
Arizona#34571 in 2,712
Washington#35271 in 3,825
Delaware———
Hawaii———
Idaho———
Maine———
Montana———
Nebraska———
New Hampshire———
North Dakota———
Oregon———
Rhode Island———
South Dakota———
Vermont———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Willie
Momentum · boys
Falling
  • 49 spots since 2024 (#1,364 → #1,315)
  • 323 spots since 2020 (#992 → #1,315)
  • 541 spots since 2015 (#774 → #1,315)
  • Biggest jump: 12 spots in 2011 (#626 → #614)
  • Biggest drop: 208 spots in 2021 (#992 → #1,200)
Rise & fade · boys
30 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1910 at #11 (2,897 births)
  • Births halved by 1988, 78 yrs later
Top of the charts · boys
Top 100 for 89 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 89 yrs · run 1880–1968
  • Top 1,000: 140 yrs · run 1880–2018
Share of babies · boys
1 in 67
  • Highest: 1 in 67 boys born in 1910 were named Willie (1.5%)
  • Latest: 1 in 11,620 boys born in 2025 (0.01%)
Era · boys
The 1940s
  • 16.1% of all boys named Willie (72,422) were born in this decade
Girls or boys?
Never flipped
  • The majority has never changed
all girlsall boys
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s5,906#24 (1888)#29
1890s9,849#18 (1897)#19
1900s17,746#13 (1909)#14
1910s47,690#11 (1910)#24
1920s67,993#27 (1925)#29
1930s62,466#29 (1930)#31
1940s72,422#31 (1944)#37
1950s66,460#42 (1950)#56
1960s39,812#81 (1960)#91
1970s23,966#103 (1970)#116
1980s16,892#130 (1980)#166
1990s9,716#221 (1990)#296
2000s5,157#407 (2000)#496
2010s3,132#614 (2011)#762
2020s981#992 (2020)#1,227

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Willie in 1978

girls
#1,598
67 births · 1 in 22,864 girls
boys
#121
2,135 births · 1 in 769 boys

Top girls' names in 1978

  1. #1Jennifer56,314
  2. #2Melissa28,327
  3. #3Jessica26,102
  4. #4Amy23,213
  5. #5Heather22,270
  6. #6Amanda20,520
  7. #7Angela20,517
  8. #8Sarah19,976
  9. #9Michelle18,856
  10. #10Nicole17,279
  11. #1,598Willie67

Top boys' names in 1978

  1. #1Michael67,127
  2. #2Jason51,600
  3. #3Christopher47,236
  4. #4David40,684
  5. #5James39,894
  6. #6Matthew34,282
  7. #7John34,014
  8. #8Robert33,374
  9. #9Brian29,432
  10. #10Joseph26,663
  11. #121Willie2,135
More about 1978

girls

1,531,859 girls got a published name in 1978; 1 in 22,864 of them was named Willie, which outranked 86.1% of the 11,475 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 16.5% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Willie
  1. #1,581Twana68
  2. #1,581Twila68
  3. #1,581Tynisha68
  4. #1,598Willie67
  5. #1,598Belen67
  6. #1,598Corrin67
  7. #1,598Donita67
  8. #1,614Blythe66
  9. #1,614Ernestine66
  10. #1,614Farah66

Tied with 15 names at #1,598; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1977
Risers
  1. ↑ 4,240Aja#4,652 → #412
  2. ↑ 1,987Kiley#2,606 → #619
  3. ↑ 1,951Kylee#2,838 → #887
  4. ↑ 1,785Winter#2,780 → #995
  5. ↑ 1,620Kylie#2,026 → #406
Fallers
  1. ↓ 913Shalon#868 → #1,781
  2. ↓ 760Farah#854 → #1,614
  3. ↓ 519Tennille#462 → #981
  4. ↓ 398Shawnte#740 → #1,138
  5. ↓ 362Farrah#177 → #539

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,641,837 boys got a published name in 1978; 1 in 769 of them was named Willie, which outranked 98.2% of the 6,762 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 24.6% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Willie
  1. #118Jimmy2,168
  2. #119Jay2,151
  3. #120Roger2,143
  4. #121Willie2,135
  5. #122Alan2,122
  6. #123Brad2,106
  7. #124Jesus2,074
Biggest movers since 1977
Risers
  1. ↑ 3,237Dequan#4,164 → #927
  2. ↑ 626Nicholaus#1,367 → #741
  3. ↑ 617Nicklaus#1,515 → #898
  4. ↑ 578Zebulon#1,476 → #898
  5. ↑ 424Anwar#1,121 → #697
Fallers
  1. ↓ 674Kinte#834 → #1,508
  2. ↓ 668Kunta#572 → #1,240
  3. ↓ 417Telly#732 → #1,149
  4. ↓ 415Lesley#937 → #1,352
  5. ↓ 310Amin#904 → #1,214

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1978 →