Holding steady.
Popularity of Willys since 1915
Babies named Willys per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 34 |
| 1920s | 63 |
| 1930s | 6 |
| 1940s | 0 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Willys is a rare variant of Willis, itself a diminutive of William. The name saw its peak usage in 1924, the year it ranked highest in the Social Security data. It first appeared on record in 1915, and its trajectory has been stable but at very low numbers. The name is virtually absent from modern birth charts, never reaching a one-in-N level of commonality. It has no strong association with any particular U.S. state among the top states list. While it may carry a vintage charm, Willys remains an uncommon choice with a solid, historic root in the classic William.
Willys is a variant of Willis, which itself derives from the Germanic name William. William comes from the elements 'wil' (will, desire) and 'helm' (helmet, protection), meaning 'resolute protector'. The spelling Willys emerged as a phonetic variant, particularly in the early 20th century. It is historically associated with the Willys-Overland automobile company, but as a given name it has remained rare.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Willis
Sibling names for Willys
Names that share Willys's style, for a brother or sister.
