Holding steady.
Popularity of Williard since 1884
Babies named Williard per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1915, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Williard's real moment was 1903.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 5 |
| 1890s | 15 |
| 1900s | 52 |
| 1910s | 296 |
| 1920s | 264 |
| 1930s | 136 |
| 1940s | 112 |
| 1950s | 71 |
| 1960s | 80 |
| 1970s | 40 |
| 1980s | 10 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Williard is an archaic variant of Willard that saw its peak of popularity in the United States in 1903, though it never achieved widespread use. After a brief period of moderate use in the early 1900s, its frequency declined steadily, and by the mid-20th century it had become exceedingly rare. The name's trajectory shows a stable presence during its peak decades, but it has since faded from common usage. Data from the Social Security Administration indicates that Williard was first recorded in 1884, and its highest year of usage was 1903, with no top state concentrations recorded. As an anachronistic choice today, Williard may appeal to parents seeking a distinctive name with a turn-of-the-century sensibility.
Williard is a variant spelling of Willard, an English surname derived from the Old French personal name Willard, itself from Germanic elements 'wil' (will) and 'hard' (brave, hardy). The name saw moderate use in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but its popularity declined steadily after the 1920s.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Will, Willy
Variants: Willard
Sibling names for Williard
Names that share Williard's style, for a brother or sister.
