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
- Peak · boys
- 1880 · 166 births
- Debut · boys
- 166 births
- In top 100 · boys
- 3 yrsof 146 years
- Total births · boys
- 52,336since 1880
Willis over time
Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.
Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.
Show data table
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | — | #2,539 | 52 | |
| 2024 | — | #2,637 | 50 | |
| 2023 | — | #2,315 | 60 | |
| 2022 | — | #2,873 | 44 | |
| 2021 | — | #2,253 | 62 | |
| 2020 | — | #2,212 | 62 | |
| 2019 | — | #2,582 | 50 | |
| 2018 | — | #2,385 | 55 | |
| 2017 | — | #2,493 | 51 | |
| 2016 | — | #2,028 | 70 | |
| 2015 | — | #1,955 | 74 | |
| 2014 | — | #1,828 | 81 | |
| 2013 | — | #1,878 | 75 | |
| 2012 | — | #1,863 | 78 | |
| 2011 | — | #1,886 | 74 | |
| 2010 | — | #2,402 | 52 | |
| 2009 | — | #2,077 | 66 | |
| 2008 | — | #2,237 | 59 | |
| 2007 | — | #1,811 | 80 | |
| 2006 | — | #1,758 | 79 | |
| 2005 | — | #1,922 | 66 | |
| 2004 | — | #1,880 | 65 | |
| 2003 | — | #1,611 | 78 | |
| 2002 | — | #1,682 | 70 | |
| 2001 | — | #1,481 | 82 | |
| 2000 | — | #1,241 | 107 | |
| 1999 | — | #1,181 | 109 | |
| 1998 | — | #1,172 | 106 | |
| 1997 | — | #1,227 | 95 | |
| 1996 | — | #1,071 | 113 | |
| 1995 | — | #1,040 | 115 | |
| 1994 | — | #1,017 | 119 | |
| 1993 | — | #953 | 127 | |
| 1992 | — | #956 | 126 | |
| 1991 | — | #809 | 163 | |
| 1990 | — | #804 | 159 | |
| 1989 | #12,362 | 5 | #770 | 166 |
| 1988 | — | #692 | 183 | |
| 1987 | — | #703 | 169 | |
| 1986 | — | #680 | 176 | |
| 1985 | — | #642 | 186 | |
| 1984 | — | #624 | 186 | |
| 1983 | — | #601 | 203 | |
| 1982 | — | #570 | 227 | |
| 1981 | — | #607 | 199 | |
| 1980 | — | #573 | 228 | |
| 1979 | — | #563 | 233 | |
| 1978 | — | #573 | 214 | |
| 1977 | — | #548 | 232 | |
| 1976 | — | #609 | 181 | |
| 1975 | — | #566 | 203 | |
| 1974 | — | #568 | 199 | |
| 1973 | — | #571 | 193 | |
| 1972 | — | #502 | 245 | |
| 1971 | — | #513 | 253 | |
| 1970 | — | #500 | 260 | |
| 1969 | — | #515 | 227 | |
| 1968 | — | #498 | 230 | |
| 1967 | — | #486 | 237 | |
| 1966 | — | #482 | 254 | |
| 1965 | #6,539 | 5 | #449 | 300 |
| 1964 | — | #445 | 324 | |
| 1963 | #4,539 | 9 | #432 | 340 |
| 1962 | — | #415 | 375 | |
| 1961 | #4,882 | 8 | #419 | 357 |
| 1960 | — | #389 | 414 | |
| 1959 | #6,245 | 5 | #395 | 407 |
| 1958 | — | #383 | 416 | |
| 1957 | #4,536 | 8 | #361 | 447 |
| 1956 | #3,321 | 13 | #350 | 444 |
| 1955 | #3,778 | 10 | #343 | 452 |
| 1954 | — | #337 | 447 | |
| 1953 | #5,040 | 6 | #321 | 480 |
| 1952 | #4,908 | 6 | #314 | 513 |
| 1951 | #2,577 | 16 | #309 | 504 |
| 1950 | #3,235 | 11 | #313 | 476 |
| 1949 | #5,244 | 5 | #310 | 479 |
| 1948 | #4,651 | 6 | #278 | 584 |
| 1947 | #3,240 | 11 | #279 | 600 |
| 1946 | #2,228 | 18 | #259 | 584 |
| 1945 | #4,556 | 5 | #231 | 579 |
| 1944 | #3,378 | 8 | #219 | 623 |
| 1943 | #2,079 | 18 | #208 | 752 |
| 1942 | #2,537 | 13 | #219 | 666 |
| 1941 | #2,668 | 11 | #201 | 685 |
| 1940 | #4,349 | 5 | #209 | 609 |
| 1939 | #2,417 | 12 | #191 | 693 |
| 1938 | #2,340 | 13 | #187 | 731 |
| 1937 | #1,679 | 21 | #184 | 724 |
| 1936 | #1,873 | 17 | #175 | 768 |
| 1935 | #1,606 | 22 | #173 | 789 |
| 1934 | #1,771 | 19 | #166 | 867 |
| 1933 | #1,906 | 17 | #170 | 812 |
| 1932 | #1,685 | 21 | #165 | 911 |
| 1931 | #1,686 | 21 | #160 | 931 |
| 1930 | #1,934 | 18 | #159 | 965 |
| 1929 | #1,825 | 20 | #150 | 1,030 |
| 1928 | #1,837 | 21 | #148 | 1,085 |
| 1927 | #1,523 | 29 | #149 | 1,058 |
| 1926 | #1,449 | 31 | #140 | 1,233 |
| 1925 | #1,795 | 23 | #139 | 1,198 |
| 1924 | #2,409 | 15 | #136 | 1,261 |
| 1923 | #1,428 | 32 | #138 | 1,183 |
| 1922 | #1,682 | 25 | #133 | 1,250 |
| 1921 | #1,723 | 25 | #133 | 1,209 |
| 1920 | #2,015 | 19 | #133 | 1,197 |
| 1919 | #1,445 | 29 | #131 | 1,136 |
| 1918 | #2,102 | 17 | #141 | 1,091 |
| 1917 | #1,507 | 25 | #140 | 954 |
| 1916 | #1,805 | 19 | #136 | 990 |
| 1915 | #2,050 | 15 | #137 | 950 |
| 1914 | #2,434 | 9 | #135 | 743 |
| 1913 | #2,034 | 10 | #135 | 573 |
| 1912 | #1,719 | 11 | #141 | 453 |
| 1911 | #1,241 | 14 | #143 | 233 |
| 1910 | #1,935 | 7 | #149 | 216 |
| 1909 | #1,290 | 11 | #139 | 189 |
| 1908 | #1,676 | 7 | #146 | 161 |
| 1907 | — | #156 | 146 | |
| 1906 | — | #139 | 148 | |
| 1905 | — | #151 | 136 | |
| 1904 | — | #144 | 136 | |
| 1903 | — | #141 | 133 | |
| 1902 | — | #134 | 144 | |
| 1901 | #1,136 | 9 | #149 | 106 |
| 1900 | — | #134 | 169 | |
| 1899 | #1,278 | 7 | #128 | 126 |
| 1898 | — | #143 | 121 | |
| 1897 | — | #124 | 132 | |
| 1896 | — | #120 | 145 | |
| 1895 | — | #124 | 135 | |
| 1894 | — | #118 | 133 | |
| 1893 | — | #112 | 149 | |
| 1892 | — | #119 | 143 | |
| 1891 | — | #117 | 118 | |
| 1890 | — | #118 | 129 | |
| 1889 | — | #115 | 124 | |
| 1888 | — | #119 | 135 | |
| 1887 | #1,147 | 5 | #117 | 113 |
| 1886 | — | #103 | 150 | |
| 1885 | — | #106 | 133 | |
| 1884 | — | #100 | 151 | |
| 1883 | — | #103 | 131 | |
| 1882 | — | #104 | 143 | |
| 1881 | — | #93 | 142 | |
| 1880 | — | #86 | 166 | |
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 1929
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
- North Dakota#87 · 1 in 346
- South Dakota#90 · 1 in 356
- Kansas#90 · 1 in 421
- Kentucky#92 · 1 in 511
- Florida#103 · 1 in 525
Best ever in a state: #57 in Delaware, 1919.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | #87 | 18 | 1 in 346 |
| Kansas | #90 | 34 | 1 in 421 |
| South Dakota | #90 | 16 | 1 in 356 |
| Kentucky | #92 | 48 | 1 in 511 |
| Florida | #103 | 22 | 1 in 525 |
| Alabama | #104 | 48 | 1 in 558 |
| New Hampshire | #106 | 5 | 1 in 637 |
| Iowa | #107 | 34 | 1 in 555 |
| West Virginia | #107 | 26 | 1 in 644 |
| Georgia | #110 | 43 | 1 in 626 |
| Louisiana | #115 | 35 | 1 in 543 |
| Arkansas | #118 | 29 | 1 in 574 |
| Maine | #118 | 10 | 1 in 596 |
| Oklahoma | #119 | 37 | 1 in 590 |
| North Carolina | #123 | 49 | 1 in 677 |
| Tennessee | #123 | 33 | 1 in 736 |
| Nebraska | #125 | 18 | 1 in 631 |
| Ohio | #129 | 54 | 1 in 940 |
| Utah | #133 | 9 | 1 in 515 |
| Missouri | #134 | 34 | 1 in 800 |
| Washington | #135 | 12 | 1 in 782 |
| Indiana | #136 | 27 | 1 in 928 |
| Mississippi | #136 | 24 | 1 in 786 |
| Wisconsin | #151 | 22 | 1 in 1,089 |
| Idaho | #153 | 5 | 1 in 704 |
| Minnesota | #153 | 18 | 1 in 1,089 |
| Virginia | #153 | 24 | 1 in 908 |
| Colorado | #155 | 9 | 1 in 918 |
| Pennsylvania | #159 | 45 | 1 in 1,785 |
| Illinois | #161 | 46 | 1 in 1,241 |
| Texas | #166 | 70 | 1 in 827 |
| Oregon | #168 | 5 | 1 in 1,089 |
| South Carolina | #174 | 14 | 1 in 1,215 |
| Maryland | #183 | 6 | 1 in 2,011 |
| Michigan | #183 | 27 | 1 in 1,561 |
| Massachusetts | #212 | 9 | 1 in 3,497 |
| New York | #233 | 33 | 1 in 2,883 |
| New Jersey | #273 | 6 | 1 in 4,823 |
| California | #307 | 12 | 1 in 3,031 |
| Alaska | — | — | — |
| Arizona | — | — | — |
| Connecticut | — | — | — |
| Delaware | — | — | — |
| District of Columbia | — | — | — |
| Hawaii | — | — | — |
| Montana | — | — | — |
| Nevada | — | — | — |
| New Mexico | — | — | — |
| 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
- 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)
- Debuted 1880
- Peaked 1880 at #86 (166 births)
- Births halved by 2001, 121 yrs later
- Top 10: never
- Top 100: 3 yrs · run 1880–1881
- Top 1,000: 114 yrs · run 1880–1993
- Highest: 1 in 666 boys born in 1880 were named Willis (0.15%)
- Latest: 1 in 32,848 boys born in 2025 (0.00%)
- 22.4% of all boys named Willis (11,704) were born in this decade
Show by decade
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 1,388 | #86 (1880) | #105 |
| 1890s | 1,331 | #112 (1893) | #122 |
| 1900s | 1,468 | #134 (1900) | #143 |
| 1910s | 7,339 | #131 (1919) | #139 |
| 1920s | 11,704 | #133 (1922) | #140 |
| 1930s | 8,191 | #159 (1930) | #173 |
| 1940s | 6,161 | #201 (1941) | #241 |
| 1950s | 4,586 | #309 (1951) | #343 |
| 1960s | 3,058 | #389 (1960) | #453 |
| 1970s | 2,213 | #500 (1970) | #551 |
| 1980s | 1,923 | #570 (1982) | #646 |
| 1990s | 1,232 | #804 (1990) | #1,023 |
| 2000s | 752 | #1,241 (2000) | #1,770 |
| 2010s | 660 | #1,828 (2014) | #2,130 |
| 2020s | 330 | #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 1929
Top girls' names in 1929
Top boys' names in 1929
More about 1929
girls
1,116,561 girls got a published name in 1929; 1 in 55,828 of them was named Willis, which outranked 65.4% of the 5,277 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 22.3% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
- #1,766Zelpha21
- #1,766Zoila21
- #1,766Zulema21
- #1,825Willis20
- #1,825Adah20
- #1,825Aldona20
- #1,825Alejandra20
- #1,892Aldine19
- #1,892Annelle19
- #1,892Bernie19
Tied with 66 names at #1,825; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.
boys
1,075,615 boys got a published name in 1929; 1 in 1,044 of them was named Willis, which outranked 96.7% of the 4,545 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.5% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.