Willis

Last seen for girls in 1989 at #12,362 · #2,539 for boys in 2025, 52 births
Given to boys 98.5% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
1880 · 166 births
Debut · boys
166 births
In top 100 · boys
3 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · boys
52,336
since 1880

Willis over time

boys

Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201915peak #86, 1880boys
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—#2,53952
2024—#2,63750
2023—#2,31560
2022—#2,87344
2021—#2,25362
2020—#2,21262
2019—#2,58250
2018—#2,38555
2017—#2,49351
2016—#2,02870
2015—#1,95574
2014—#1,82881
2013—#1,87875
2012—#1,86378
2011—#1,88674
2010—#2,40252
2009—#2,07766
2008—#2,23759
2007—#1,81180
2006—#1,75879
2005—#1,92266
2004—#1,88065
2003—#1,61178
2002—#1,68270
2001—#1,48182
2000—#1,241107
1999—#1,181109
1998—#1,172106
1997—#1,22795
1996—#1,071113
1995—#1,040115
1994—#1,017119
1993—#953127
1992—#956126
1991—#809163
1990—#804159
1989#12,3625#770166
1988—#692183
1987—#703169
1986—#680176
1985—#642186
1984—#624186
1983—#601203
1982—#570227
1981—#607199
1980—#573228
1979—#563233
1978—#573214
1977—#548232
1976—#609181
1975—#566203
1974—#568199
1973—#571193
1972—#502245
1971—#513253
1970—#500260
1969—#515227
1968—#498230
1967—#486237
1966—#482254
1965#6,5395#449300
1964—#445324
1963#4,5399#432340
1962—#415375
1961#4,8828#419357
1960—#389414
1959#6,2455#395407
1958—#383416
1957#4,5368#361447
1956#3,32113#350444
1955#3,77810#343452
1954—#337447
1953#5,0406#321480
1952#4,9086#314513
1951#2,57716#309504
1950#3,23511#313476
1949#5,2445#310479
1948#4,6516#278584
1947#3,24011#279600
1946#2,22818#259584
1945#4,5565#231579
1944#3,3788#219623
1943#2,07918#208752
1942#2,53713#219666
1941#2,66811#201685
1940#4,3495#209609
1939#2,41712#191693
1938#2,34013#187731
1937#1,67921#184724
1936#1,87317#175768
1935#1,60622#173789
1934#1,77119#166867
1933#1,90617#170812
1932#1,68521#165911
1931#1,68621#160931
1930#1,93418#159965
1929#1,82520#1501,030
1928#1,83721#1481,085
1927#1,52329#1491,058
1926#1,44931#1401,233
1925#1,79523#1391,198
1924#2,40915#1361,261
1923#1,42832#1381,183
1922#1,68225#1331,250
1921#1,72325#1331,209
1920#2,01519#1331,197
1919#1,44529#1311,136
1918#2,10217#1411,091
1917#1,50725#140954
1916#1,80519#136990
1915#2,05015#137950
1914#2,4349#135743
1913#2,03410#135573
1912#1,71911#141453
1911#1,24114#143233
1910#1,9357#149216
1909#1,29011#139189
1908#1,6767#146161
1907—#156146
1906—#139148
1905—#151136
1904—#144136
1903—#141133
1902—#134144
1901#1,1369#149106
1900—#134169
1899#1,2787#128126
1898—#143121
1897—#124132
1896—#120145
1895—#124135
1894—#118133
1893—#112149
1892—#119143
1891—#117118
1890—#118129
1889—#115124
1888—#119135
1887#1,1475#117113
1886—#103150
1885—#106133
1884—#100151
1883—#103131
1882—#104143
1881—#93142
1880—#86166
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Willis was already there! It came in at #86, and was given to 166 baby boys.


Quietest stretch: 2017–2025, when fewer than 63 boys a year got the name.

Where Willis is popular in 1915

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedNHWashington: #107 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 564 boysWAIdaho: #122 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 505 boysIDMontana: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #159 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 1,017 boysMNIllinois: #135 for boys · 55 births · 1 in 864 boysILWisconsin: #172 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 1,270 boysWIMichigan: #176 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 1,209 boysMINew York: #280 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 3,917 boysNYMassachusetts: #278 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 3,959 boysMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedRIOregon: #86 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 390 boysORNevada: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: #118 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 509 boysSDIowa: #143 for boys · 19 births · 1 in 890 boysIAIndiana: #129 for boys · 25 births · 1 in 801 boysINOhio: #81 for boys · 94 births · 1 in 418 boysOHPennsylvania: #154 for boys · 49 births · 1 in 1,476 boysPANew Jersey: #204 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 2,540 boysNJConnecticut: #151 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 1,445 boysCTCalifornia: #136 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 860 boysCAUtah: #93 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 367 boysUTColorado: #124 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 630 boysCONebraska: #78 for boys · 32 births · 1 in 307 boysNEMissouri: #121 for boys · 34 births · 1 in 697 boysMOKentucky: #123 for boys · 25 births · 1 in 750 boysKYWest Virginia: #107 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 556 boysWVVirginia: #131 for boys · 23 births · 1 in 785 boysVAMaryland: #140 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 1,082 boysMDDelaware: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedDEArizona: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedNMKansas: #95 for boys · 29 births · 1 in 431 boysKSArkansas: #122 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 542 boysARTennessee: #117 for boys · 25 births · 1 in 703 boysTNNorth Carolina: #118 for boys · 34 births · 1 in 696 boysNCSouth Carolina: #146 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 889 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #115 for boys · 28 births · 1 in 542 boysOKLouisiana: #113 for boys · 28 births · 1 in 502 boysLAMississippi: #123 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 629 boysMSAlabama: #95 for boys · 40 births · 1 in 489 boysALGeorgia: #92 for boys · 51 births · 1 in 483 boysGAHawaii: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedHITexas: #154 for boys · 48 births · 1 in 771 boysTXFlorida: #110 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 534 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Nebraska#78 · 1 in 307
  2. Ohio#81 · 1 in 418
  3. Oregon#86 · 1 in 390
  4. Georgia#92 · 1 in 483
  5. Utah#93 · 1 in 367

Best ever in a state: #57 in Delaware, 1919.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Nebraska#78321 in 307
Ohio#81941 in 418
Oregon#86111 in 390
Georgia#92511 in 483
Utah#93101 in 367
Alabama#95401 in 489
Kansas#95291 in 431
Washington#107131 in 564
West Virginia#107201 in 556
Florida#110141 in 534
Louisiana#113281 in 502
Oklahoma#115281 in 542
Tennessee#117251 in 703
North Carolina#118341 in 696
South Dakota#11891 in 509
Missouri#121341 in 697
Arkansas#122241 in 542
Idaho#12261 in 505
Kentucky#123251 in 750
Mississippi#123241 in 629
Colorado#12491 in 630
Indiana#129251 in 801
Virginia#131231 in 785
Illinois#135551 in 864
California#136201 in 860
Maryland#14091 in 1,082
Iowa#143191 in 890
South Carolina#146171 in 889
Connecticut#15171 in 1,445
Pennsylvania#154491 in 1,476
Texas#154481 in 771
Minnesota#159171 in 1,017
Wisconsin#172151 in 1,270
Michigan#176201 in 1,209
New Jersey#20491 in 2,540
Massachusetts#27871 in 3,959
New York#280201 in 3,917
Alaska———
Arizona———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Hawaii———
Maine———
Montana———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Mexico———
North Dakota———
Rhode Island———
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 Willis
Momentum · boys
Holding steady
  • 98 spots since 2024 (#2,637 → #2,539)
  • 327 spots since 2020 (#2,212 → #2,539)
  • 584 spots since 2015 (#1,955 → #2,539)
  • Biggest jump: 61 spots in 1977 (#609 → #548)
  • Biggest drop: 147 spots in 1992 (#809 → #956)
Rise & fade · boys
Peaked on debut
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1880 at #86 (166 births)
  • Births halved by 2001, 121 yrs later
Top of the charts · boys
Top 100 for 3 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 3 yrs · run 1880–1881
  • Top 1,000: 114 yrs · run 1880–1993
Share of babies · boys
1 in 666
  • Highest: 1 in 666 boys born in 1880 were named Willis (0.15%)
  • Latest: 1 in 32,848 boys born in 2025 (0.00%)
Era · boys
The 1920s
  • 22.4% of all boys named Willis (11,704) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s1,388#86 (1880)#105
1890s1,331#112 (1893)#122
1900s1,468#134 (1900)#143
1910s7,339#131 (1919)#139
1920s11,704#133 (1922)#140
1930s8,191#159 (1930)#173
1940s6,161#201 (1941)#241
1950s4,586#309 (1951)#343
1960s3,058#389 (1960)#453
1970s2,213#500 (1970)#551
1980s1,923#570 (1982)#646
1990s1,232#804 (1990)#1,023
2000s752#1,241 (2000)#1,770
2010s660#1,828 (2014)#2,130
2020s330#2,212 (2020)#2,472

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.

Willis in 1915

girls
#2,050
15 births · 1 in 65,590 girls
boys
#137
950 births · 1 in 893 boys

Top girls' names in 1915

  1. #1Mary58,187
  2. #2Helen30,866
  3. #3Dorothy25,154
  4. #4Margaret23,054
  5. #5Ruth21,878
  6. #6Mildred15,254
  7. #7Anna15,119
  8. #8Elizabeth14,103
  9. #9Frances12,786
  10. #10Evelyn11,595
  11. #2,050Willis15

Top boys' names in 1915

  1. #1John47,576
  2. #2William38,563
  3. #3James33,773
  4. #4Robert28,737
  5. #5Joseph23,051
  6. #6George22,307
  7. #7Charles21,960
  8. #8Edward15,889
  9. #9Frank15,006
  10. #10Thomas11,490
  11. #137Willis950
More about 1915

girls

983,852 girls got a published name in 1915; 1 in 65,590 of them was named Willis, which outranked 58.7% of the 4,967 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.2% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Willis
  1. #1,964Wayne16
  2. #1,964Wessie16
  3. #1,964Zilpha16
  4. #2,050Willis15
  5. #2,050Aldene15
  6. #2,050Aleda15
  7. #2,050Alfred15
  8. #2,143Adelene14
  9. #2,143Ailie14
  10. #2,143Alexina14

Tied with 92 names at #2,050; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1914
Risers
  1. ↑ 500Gerda#1,444 → #944
  2. ↑ 451Theda#1,034 → #583
  3. ↑ 441Dominga#1,385 → #944
  4. ↑ 354Vernon#1,344 → #990
  5. ↑ 308Loyce#1,147 → #839
Fallers
  1. ↓ 383Drusilla#956 → #1,339
  2. ↓ 342Rossie#798 → #1,140
  3. ↓ 335Arlie#855 → #1,190
  4. ↓ 329Orene#956 → #1,285
  5. ↓ 329Margot#988 → #1,317

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

boys

848,575 boys got a published name in 1915; 1 in 893 of them was named Willis, which outranked 96.9% of the 4,390 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 30.4% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Willis
  1. #134Manuel976
  2. #135Rudolph974
  3. #136Edmund961
  4. #137Willis950
  5. #138Emil918
  6. #139Nathan916
  7. #140Jerome907
Biggest movers since 1914
Risers
  1. ↑ 691Eston#1,687 → #996
  2. ↑ 565Estill#1,545 → #980
  3. ↑ 545Garth#1,260 → #715
  4. ↑ 474Hiroshi#1,342 → #868
  5. ↑ 439Domingo#1,101 → #662
Fallers
  1. ↓ 674Gilmore#986 → #1,660
  2. ↓ 667Barnett#933 → #1,600
  3. ↓ 526Rose#884 → #1,410
  4. ↓ 517Toivo#855 → #1,372
  5. ↓ 461Sampson#949 → #1,410

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

See the top 100 for 1915 →