Boy
Willis
resolute protection, will helmet
About Willis
Think vintage charm meeting contemporary resurgence. This gentlemanly name brings old-fashioned warmth into modern contexts, perfect for parents appreciating timeless classics with distinguished histories. The soft "W" opening creates an immediately friendly impression, while the overall structure conveys reliability and substance. It evokes images of trustworthiness and kindness—qualities that never go out of style.
Notable figures throughout history have carried this name with grace and achievement, providing positive associations across generations. The name's relative rarity today means it feels refreshingly different from current top-ten lists, yet everyone recognizes and can spell it correctly. It pairs wonderfully with both traditional middle names and contemporary choices, demonstrating remarkable flexibility. Parents drawn to heritage names, vintage revivals, or simply beautiful classic options find much to love here. The name suggests someone grounded, capable, and genuinely good-hearted—characteristics worth celebrating from childhood through every life stage.
Popularity of the Name Willis
Rank among the 1,000 most popular baby names, by year.
| United States | Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| 1880 | #86 | |
| 1881 | #93 | |
| 1882 | #104 | |
| 1883 | #103 | |
| 1884 | #101 | |
| 1885 | #106 | |
| 1886 | #104 | |
| 1887 | #117 | |
| 1888 | #119 | |
| 1889 | #115 | |
| 1890 | #118 | |
| 1891 | #117 | |
| 1892 | #119 | |
| 1893 | #113 | |
| 1894 | #118 | |
| 1895 | #125 | |
| 1896 | #123 | |
| 1897 | #125 | |
| 1898 | #144 | |
| 1899 | #128 | |
| 1900 | #134 | |
| 1901 | #149 | |
| 1902 | #134 | |
| 1903 | #141 | |
| 1904 | #144 | |
| 1905 | #153 | |
| 1906 | #141 | |
| 1907 | #156 | |
| 1908 | #146 | |
| 1909 | #139 | |
| 1910 | #149 | |
| 1911 | #144 | |
| 1912 | #142 | |
| 1913 | #136 | |
| 1914 | #135 | |
| 1915 | #137 | |
| 1916 | #136 | |
| 1917 | #140 | |
| 1918 | #141 | |
| 1919 | #131 | |
| 1920 | #133 | |
| 1921 | #133 | |
| 1922 | #133 | |
| 1923 | #138 | |
| 1924 | #136 | |
| 1925 | #139 | |
| 1926 | #140 | |
| 1927 | #150 | |
| 1928 | #148 | |
| 1929 | #150 | |
| 1930 | #159 | |
| 1931 | #161 | |
| 1932 | #165 | |
| 1933 | #170 | |
| 1934 | #166 | |
| 1935 | #173 | |
| 1936 | #175 | |
| 1937 | #184 | |
| 1938 | #187 | |
| 1939 | #191 | |
| 1940 | #209 | |
| 1941 | #201 | |
| 1942 | #220 | |
| 1943 | #208 | |
| 1944 | #219 | |
| 1945 | #231 | |
| 1946 | #259 | |
| 1947 | #279 | |
| 1948 | #279 | |
| 1949 | #310 | |
| 1950 | #313 | |
| 1951 | #310 | |
| 1952 | #314 | |
| 1953 | #322 | |
| 1954 | #336 | |
| 1955 | #342 | |
| 1956 | #349 | |
| 1957 | #361 | |
| 1958 | #383 | |
| 1959 | #395 | |
| 1960 | #389 | |
| 1961 | #419 | |
| 1962 | #415 | |
| 1963 | #432 | |
| 1964 | #445 | |
| 1965 | #449 | |
| 1966 | #482 | |
| 1967 | #486 | |
| 1968 | #499 | |
| 1969 | #518 | |
| 1970 | #501 | |
| 1971 | #514 | |
| 1972 | #505 | |
| 1973 | #572 | |
| 1974 | #569 | |
| 1975 | #567 | |
| 1976 | #610 | |
| 1977 | #549 | |
| 1978 | #573 | |
| 1979 | #564 | |
| 1980 | #573 | |
| 1981 | #607 | |
| 1982 | #571 | |
| 1983 | #603 | |
| 1984 | #626 | |
| 1985 | #643 | |
| 1986 | #682 | |
| 1987 | #704 | |
| 1988 | #693 | |
| 1989 | #768 | |
| 1990 | #804 | |
| 1991 | #810 | #766 |
| 1992 | #957 | |
| 1993 | #955 |
Top names by country: United States · Canada
Variations of Name Willis
Names Similar to Willis
Nicknames for Willis
- Will
- Willy
- Lis
- Bill
Famous People Named Willis
| Willis Reed | American basketball player |
| Willis Haviland Carrier | American engineer, known for inventing air conditioning |
| Willis Carto | American white supremacist and conspiracy theorist |
| Willis McGahee | American football player |
| Willis Alan Ramsey | American singer-songwriter |
| Willis Conover | American jazz broadcaster |
| Willis Bouchey | American actor |
| Willis Lamb | American physicist and Nobel laureate |
| Willis Eugene Lamb Jr. | American physicist and Nobel laureate |
| Willis H. O'Brien | American special effects pioneer |
| Willis C. Hawley | American politician |
| Willis Smith | American politician |
| Willis Hall | English playwright and radio/television writer |
| Willis Polk | American architect |
| Willis Augustus Lee | American admiral |
| Willis Seaver Adams | American composer and conductor |
| Willis Van Devanter | American Supreme Court Justice |
| Willis H. Stephens | American politician |
Characters Named Willis
| Willis "Gator" Woolens | Character in the TV show "Gimme a Break!" |
| Willis Jackson | Character in the TV show "Diff'rent Strokes" |
| Willis E. Davidge | Character in the movie "Enemy Mine" |
| Willis H. O'Brien | Character in the movie "King Kong" |
| Willis Corto | Character in the book "Neuromancer" by William Gibson |
| Willis Arnold | Character in the movie "The Rookie" |
| Willis Embry | Character in the movie "Eraser" |
| Willis Plouffe | Character in the movie "The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz" |
| Willis Todd | Character in the book "The Dark Tower" series by Stephen King |
| Willis Newton | Character in the movie "The Newton Boys" |
| Willis Richland | Character in the movie "The People vs. Larry Flynt" |
| Willis Wayde | Character in the TV show "The Good Fight" |
| Willis Wheeler | Character in the movie "King of California" |
| Willis MacArthur | Character in the movie "Down Periscope" |
| Willis Crane | Character in the movie "I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang" |
| Willis Bell | Character in the movie "The Rainmaker" |
| Willis Earle | Character in the movie "The Great Debaters" |
| Willis Poundstone | Character in the movie "Nightcrawler" |
| Willis Sparks | Character in the movie "The Last Boy Scout" |
| Willis Pule | Character in the book "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss |