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#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201957peak #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 1957

  • 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: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedWAIdaho: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #356 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 8,233 boysMNIllinois: #340 for boys · 23 births · 1 in 5,050 boysILWisconsin: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedWIMichigan: #619 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 20,298 boysMINew York: #434 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 8,234 boysNYMassachusetts: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedRIOregon: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedORNevada: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedSDIowa: #339 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 6,201 boysIAIndiana: #341 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 5,606 boysINOhio: #323 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 5,425 boysOHPennsylvania: #310 for boys · 21 births · 1 in 6,043 boysPANew Jersey: #369 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 7,687 boysNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #585 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 12,578 boysCAUtah: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedUTColorado: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedCONebraska: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedNEMissouri: #280 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 3,244 boysMOKentucky: #257 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 2,603 boysKYWest Virginia: #231 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 2,158 boysWVVirginia: #290 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 2,763 boysVAMaryland: #346 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 5,463 boysMDDelaware: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedDEArizona: #277 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 1,905 boysAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedNMKansas: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedKSArkansas: #226 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 1,567 boysARTennessee: #276 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 2,728 boysTNNorth Carolina: #249 for boys · 26 births · 1 in 2,086 boysNCSouth Carolina: #199 for boys · 23 births · 1 in 1,325 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #296 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 3,018 boysOKLouisiana: #329 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 2,889 boysLAMississippi: #380 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 4,701 boysMSAlabama: #238 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 1,791 boysALGeorgia: #235 for boys · 29 births · 1 in 1,721 boysGAHawaii: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedHITexas: #461 for boys · 25 births · 1 in 4,995 boysTXFlorida: #329 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 3,336 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. South Carolina#199 · 1 in 1,325
  2. Arkansas#226 · 1 in 1,567
  3. West Virginia#231 · 1 in 2,158
  4. Georgia#235 · 1 in 1,721
  5. Alabama#238 · 1 in 1,791

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
South Carolina#199231 in 1,325
Arkansas#226131 in 1,567
West Virginia#231101 in 2,158
Georgia#235291 in 1,721
Alabama#238221 in 1,791
North Carolina#249261 in 2,086
Kentucky#257141 in 2,603
Tennessee#276151 in 2,728
Arizona#27781 in 1,905
Missouri#280151 in 3,244
Virginia#290161 in 2,763
Oklahoma#29681 in 3,018
Pennsylvania#310211 in 6,043
Ohio#323221 in 5,425
Florida#329151 in 3,336
Louisiana#329151 in 2,889
Iowa#33951 in 6,201
Illinois#340231 in 5,050
Indiana#341101 in 5,606
Maryland#34661 in 5,463
Minnesota#35651 in 8,233
New Jersey#36981 in 7,687
Mississippi#38061 in 4,701
New York#434221 in 8,234
Texas#461251 in 4,995
California#585141 in 12,578
Michigan#61951 in 20,298
Alaska———
Colorado———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Hawaii———
Idaho———
Kansas———
Maine———
Massachusetts———
Montana———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Mexico———
North Dakota———
Oregon———
Rhode Island———
South Dakota———
Utah———
Vermont———
Washington———
Wisconsin———
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 1957

girls
#4,536
8 births · 1 in 255,606 girls
boys
#361
447 births · 1 in 4,826 boys

Top girls' names in 1957

  1. #1Mary61,102
  2. #2Susan45,954
  3. #3Linda44,517
  4. #4Debra42,728
  5. #5Karen40,591
  6. #6Deborah40,096
  7. #7Cynthia39,340
  8. #8Patricia39,283
  9. #9Barbara29,692
  10. #10Donna28,042
  11. #4,536Willis8

Top boys' names in 1957

  1. #1Michael92,781
  2. #2James84,337
  3. #3David82,403
  4. #4Robert81,765
  5. #5John79,033
  6. #6William56,852
  7. #7Mark52,841
  8. #8Richard52,446
  9. #9Thomas44,625
  10. #10Steven36,842
  11. #361Willis447
More about 1957

girls

2,044,851 girls got a published name in 1957; 1 in 255,606 of them was named Willis, which outranked 35.3% of the 7,015 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 20.1% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Willis
  1. #4,202Yevonne9
  2. #4,202Zeta9
  3. #4,202Zoann9
  4. #4,536Willis8
  5. #4,536Aggie8
  6. #4,536Albertine8
  7. #4,536Aletta8
  8. #4,918Adah7
  9. #4,918Adline7
  10. #4,918Adonica7

Tied with 381 names at #4,536; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1956
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,944Tammi#3,696 → #752
  2. ↑ 1,310Tamela#2,151 → #841
  3. ↑ 1,298Tammie#1,662 → #364
  4. ↑ 993Tia#1,968 → #975
  5. ↑ 676Tamera#1,287 → #611
Fallers
  1. ↓ 423Corliss#878 → #1,301
  2. ↓ 399Glynis#977 → #1,376
  3. ↓ 367Merrie#977 → #1,344
  4. ↓ 303Taryn#935 → #1,238
  5. ↓ 291Glendora#963 → #1,254

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

boys

2,157,236 boys got a published name in 1957; 1 in 4,826 of them was named Willis, which outranked 92.1% of the 4,552 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 30.8% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Willis
  1. #358Oliver452
  2. #359Alfredo449
  3. #359Lowell449
  4. #361Willis447
  5. #362Rusty443
  6. #363Jaime442
  7. #363Jamie442
Biggest movers since 1956
Risers
  1. ↑ 714Dion#1,642 → #928
  2. ↑ 404Wes#1,317 → #913
  3. ↑ 371Antoine#1,232 → #861
  4. ↑ 340Domenick#1,335 → #995
  5. ↑ 329Mitch#868 → #539
Fallers
  1. ↓ 458Lannie#999 → #1,457
  2. ↓ 402Desi#986 → #1,388
  3. ↓ 354Gavin#924 → #1,278
  4. ↓ 317Murphy#917 → #1,234
  5. ↓ 288Eliot#897 → #1,185

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

See the top 100 for 1957 →