NameRealm
Will

Will: name meaning, origin & popularity

Meaning
“resolute protector”
Origin
Germanic
Say it
WIL · 1 syllable
Used for
Boys

Short form of William, from Germanic elements meaning 'will, desire' and 'helmet, protection'. It is also occasionally used as an independent given name.

English namesNames meaning protectorNames meaning strengthShort namesClassic names

How popular is Will?

202446.0 per million US babies
1880192019602000
Drag the line or the slider to read any year. Values are per million US births recorded by Social Security. Records before about 1937 undercount births, so early peaks can look taller than they were.

Babies named Will in 2024153

2024 rank#1,277 boys

Peak year1882

Total US babies since 188046,439

Will is fading: recent use is about 60% of its level ten years before.

Names like Will

Variants, related forms and names with the same roots.

  • Liamresolute protector · Irish
  • Williamresolute protector · Germanic
  • Wilsonson of Will · English
  • Guillermoresolute protector · Germanic
  • Billresolute protector · Germanic
  • Willisdescendant of Will · English
  • Henryhome ruler · Germanic
  • Charlesfree man · Germanic

Will questions

What does the name Will mean?

Will means "resolute protector". It comes from Germanic. Short form of William, from Germanic elements meaning 'will, desire' and 'helmet, protection'. It is also occasionally used as an independent given name.

Is Will a boy or girl name?

Will is mainly a boy's name in US records (99% of uses since 1880).

How popular is Will?

153 US babies were named Will in 2024. Its peak year was 1882.

How do you pronounce Will?

Will is usually pronounced WIL.

Birth counts: US Social Security Administration national data, 1880–2024 (names given to 5+ babies of a sex in a year). How we write meanings.