Willoughby: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

–

among boys

Babies in 2025

named Willoughby

How common

–

boys born in 2025

Peak year

2021

17 babies

All-time total

314

#10,951 all-time among boys

First recorded

1915

in Social Security records

Willoughby popularity over time

314 babies have been named Willoughby since 1915, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

BoysGirls

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	32	32	3	–	#2,952
1920s	–	82	82	8	+156%	#2,221
1930s	–	29	29	3	-65%	#3,384
1940s	–	23	23	2	-21%	#3,129
1950s	–	11	11	1	-52%	#3,935
1960s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1970s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1980s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1990s	–	–	–	–	–	–
2000s	5	–	5	1	–	–
2010s	38	34	72	7	+1340%	#9,558
2020s (to 2025)	48	12	60	10	+39%	#10,735

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.

How old are people named Willoughby?

The median living Willoughby is about 8 years old; half are between 4 and 14. An estimated 200 people named Willoughby are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

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

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Willoughby Hamilton Irish tennis and badminton player 1864–1943 · 19th century

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Willoughby, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Willoughby?

The median living Willoughby is about 8 years old. Half of all living Willoughbys are between 4 and 14 years old.

How many people named Willoughby are alive today?

An estimated 200 people named Willoughby are alive in the United States, based on 314 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

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).

Names like Willoughby

Names that sound and feel close to Willoughby: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Willoughby with similar names → More names starting with W →