Willoughby
From Old English weliġ (“willow”) and Old Norse byr (“settlement”).
Every Willoughby since 1915 — 314 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Willoughby
Willoughby is not currently in use for newborns in the United States — fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.
Since 1915, 314 American babies have been named Willoughby — about 71% boys and 29% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2021, when 17 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Willoughby stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Willoughby year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | #17,134 | — | — |
| 2024 | 10 | #10,224 | 5 | #14,167 |
| 2023 | 7 | #13,385 | — | — |
| 2022 | 6 | #15,196 | — | — |
| 2021 | 10 | #10,254 | 7 | #10,735 |
| 2020 | 10 | #10,211 | — | — |
| 2019 | 5 | #17,855 | — | — |
| 2018 | 5 | #17,993 | 6 | #12,070 |
| 2017 | 7 | #14,033 | — | — |
| 2016 | 8 | #12,820 | — | — |
| 2015 | — | — | 6 | #12,024 |
| 2014 | 7 | #14,491 | 6 | #12,036 |
| 2013 | — | — | 8 | #9,618 |
| 2012 | — | — | — | — |
| 2011 | — | — | 8 | #9,558 |
| 2010 | 6 | #16,888 | — | — |
| 2009 | — | — | — | — |
| 2008 | — | — | — | — |
| 2007 | — | — | — | — |
| 2006 | — | — | — | — |
| 2005 | — | — | — | — |
| 2004 | — | — | — | — |
| 2003 | — | — | — | — |
| 2002 | — | — | — | — |
| 2001 | — | — | — | — |
| 2000 | 5 | #17,549 | — | — |
| 1995 | — | — | — | — |
| 1990 | — | — | — | — |
| 1985 | — | — | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — | — | — |
| 1975 | — | — | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | 5 | #3,771 |
| 1940 | — | — | 6 | #3,457 |
| 1935 | — | — | 5 | #4,140 |
| 1930 | — | — | 7 | #3,588 |
| 1925 | — | — | 7 | #3,733 |
| 1920 | — | — | 14 | #2,333 |
| 1915 | — | — | 5 | #4,383 |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Willoughby
- Willoughby Hamilton Soccer player · 1864–1943
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Willoughby mean?
From Old English weliġ (“willow”) and Old Norse byr (“settlement”).
How popular is the name Willoughby in 2025?
Willoughby did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.
How many people are named Willoughby?
314 babies have been named Willoughby in the United States since 1915, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Willoughby most popular?
Willoughby peaked in 2021, when 17 newborns received the name.
Is Willoughby a boy or girl name?
Willoughby is used for both: about 29% of babies named Willoughby have been girls and 71% boys.
Is the name Willoughby rising or falling?
Willoughby is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Willoughby?
Well-known people named Willoughby include Willoughby Hamilton (soccer player).