Willis: name meaning, origin & popularity
- Meaning
- “descendant of Will”
- Origin
- English
- Say it
- WIL-iss · 2 syllables
- Used for
- Boys (98% of all uses)
English surname name from a medieval pet form of William. As a given name, it preserves the surname meaning and connection to William, 'resolute protection'.
How popular is Willis?
Babies named Willis in 202449
2024 rank#2,665 boys
Peak year1880
Total US babies since 188053,105
Willis is steady now but far below its 1880 peak.
Names like Willis
Variants, related forms and names with the same roots.
Willis questions
What does the name Willis mean?
Willis means "descendant of Will". It comes from English. English surname name from a medieval pet form of William. As a given name, it preserves the surname meaning and connection to William, 'resolute protection'.
Is Willis a boy or girl name?
Willis is mainly a boy's name in US records (99% of uses since 1880).
How popular is Willis?
49 US babies were named Willis in 2024. Its peak year was 1880.
How do you pronounce Willis?
Willis is usually pronounced WIL-iss.
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.