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#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201963peak #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 1963

  • 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: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedMNIllinois: #537 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 10,782 boysILWisconsin: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedWIMichigan: #421 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 8,602 boysMINew York: #633 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 15,867 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: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedIAIndiana: #412 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 7,328 boysINOhio: #330 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 5,163 boysOHPennsylvania: #350 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 6,416 boysPANew Jersey: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #529 for boys · 21 births · 1 in 8,942 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: #334 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 4,458 boysMOKentucky: #296 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 3,307 boysKYWest Virginia: #294 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 3,401 boysWVVirginia: #371 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 4,792 boysVAMaryland: #328 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 4,678 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: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedKSArkansas: #250 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 1,768 boysARTennessee: #417 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 6,354 boysTNNorth Carolina: #313 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 2,966 boysNCSouth Carolina: #242 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 1,795 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #391 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 4,506 boysOKLouisiana: #373 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 3,302 boysLAMississippi: #216 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 1,292 boysMSAlabama: #378 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 4,380 boysALGeorgia: #339 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 3,356 boysGAHawaii: fewer than 5 boys named Willis, so not publishedHITexas: #515 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 5,766 boysTXFlorida: #286 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 2,431 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Mississippi#216 · 1 in 1,292
  2. South Carolina#242 · 1 in 1,795
  3. Arkansas#250 · 1 in 1,768
  4. Florida#286 · 1 in 2,431
  5. West Virginia#294 · 1 in 3,401

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Mississippi#216201 in 1,292
South Carolina#242151 in 1,795
Arkansas#250111 in 1,768
Florida#286221 in 2,431
West Virginia#29451 in 3,401
Kentucky#296101 in 3,307
North Carolina#313171 in 2,966
Maryland#32871 in 4,678
Ohio#330201 in 5,163
Missouri#334101 in 4,458
Georgia#339141 in 3,356
Pennsylvania#350171 in 6,416
Virginia#37191 in 4,792
Louisiana#373121 in 3,302
Alabama#37881 in 4,380
Oklahoma#39151 in 4,506
Indiana#41271 in 7,328
Tennessee#41761 in 6,354
Michigan#421101 in 8,602
Texas#515201 in 5,766
California#529211 in 8,942
Illinois#537101 in 10,782
New York#633111 in 15,867
Alaska———
Arizona———
Colorado———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Hawaii———
Idaho———
Iowa———
Kansas———
Maine———
Massachusetts———
Minnesota———
Montana———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Jersey———
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 1963

girls
#4,539
9 births · 1 in 214,167 girls
boys
#432
340 births · 1 in 5,974 boys

Top girls' names in 1963

  1. #1Lisa56,047
  2. #2Mary41,546
  3. #3Susan33,991
  4. #4Karen32,492
  5. #5Linda27,727
  6. #6Donna25,405
  7. #7Patricia25,374
  8. #8Lori23,899
  9. #9Sandra21,621
  10. #10Cynthia21,589
  11. #4,539Willis9

Top boys' names in 1963

  1. #1Michael83,771
  2. #2John78,636
  3. #3David78,444
  4. #4James71,294
  5. #5Robert70,007
  6. #6Mark49,342
  7. #7William44,453
  8. #8Richard40,772
  9. #9Thomas35,490
  10. #10Jeffrey31,701
  11. #432Willis340
More about 1963

girls

1,927,507 girls got a published name in 1963; 1 in 214,167 of them was named Willis, which outranked 40.8% of the 7,661 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 16.1% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Willis
  1. #4,272Yvonnie10
  2. #4,272Zanetta10
  3. #4,272Zeta10
  4. #4,539Willis9
  5. #4,539Abbi9
  6. #4,539Adaline9
  7. #4,539Adonica9
  8. #4,896Adalia8
  9. #4,896Adrena8
  10. #4,896Alean8

Tied with 356 names at #4,539; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1962
Risers
  1. ↑ 631Zena#1,323 → #692
  2. ↑ 623Zina#992 → #369
  3. ↑ 540Trisha#1,020 → #480
  4. ↑ 457Shirl#1,304 → #847
  5. ↑ 396Glynis#992 → #596
Fallers
  1. ↓ 1,195Marnita#727 → #1,922
  2. ↓ 255Velvet#623 → #878
  3. ↓ 235Delphine#904 → #1,139
  4. ↓ 224Rosita#934 → #1,158
  5. ↓ 197Lindy#885 → #1,082

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

boys

2,031,078 boys got a published name in 1963; 1 in 5,974 of them was named Willis, which outranked 90.7% of the 4,621 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 28.7% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Willis
  1. #429Darwin347
  2. #430Wilbert346
  3. #431Hubert341
  4. #432Willis340
  5. #433Boyd339
  6. #434Dominick337
  7. #435Carey336
Biggest movers since 1962
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,551Tal#2,364 → #813
  2. ↑ 1,141Jaimie#1,962 → #821
  3. ↑ 540Stoney#1,038 → #498
  4. ↑ 364Pamela#1,311 → #947
  5. ↑ 331Giovanni#1,242 → #911
Fallers
  1. ↓ 324Olin#871 → #1,195
  2. ↓ 295Enoch#984 → #1,279
  3. ↓ 285Rand#953 → #1,238
  4. ↓ 283Vernell#996 → #1,279
  5. ↓ 269Bentley#926 → #1,195

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

See the top 100 for 1963 →