Willy
Every Willy since 1884 — 4,053 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Willy
Willy is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #4,041 in 2025 with 27 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1884, 4,053 American babies have been named Willy. Its peak came in 1993, when 69 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1990s.
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 Willy stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Willy 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 | — | — | 27 | #4,041 |
| 2024 | — | — | 24 | #4,423 |
| 2023 | — | — | 20 | #5,056 |
| 2022 | — | — | 31 | #3,686 |
| 2021 | — | — | 30 | #3,733 |
| 2020 | — | — | 38 | #3,070 |
| 2019 | — | — | 29 | #3,791 |
| 2018 | — | — | 39 | #3,051 |
| 2017 | — | — | 26 | #4,101 |
| 2016 | — | — | 26 | #4,089 |
| 2015 | — | — | 30 | #3,680 |
| 2014 | — | — | 35 | #3,229 |
| 2013 | — | — | 38 | #2,996 |
| 2012 | — | — | 44 | #2,768 |
| 2011 | — | — | 41 | #2,902 |
| 2010 | — | — | 44 | #2,784 |
| 2009 | — | — | 48 | #2,621 |
| 2008 | — | — | 60 | #2,236 |
| 2007 | — | — | 49 | #2,562 |
| 2006 | — | — | 47 | #2,575 |
| 2005 | — | — | 48 | #2,431 |
| 2004 | — | — | 48 | #2,374 |
| 2003 | — | — | 49 | #2,235 |
| 2002 | — | — | 46 | #2,292 |
| 2001 | — | — | 59 | #1,889 |
| 2000 | — | — | 49 | #2,084 |
| 1995 | — | — | 48 | #1,838 |
| 1990 | — | — | 63 | #1,419 |
| 1985 | — | — | 42 | #1,568 |
| 1980 | — | — | 34 | #1,724 |
| 1975 | — | — | 32 | #1,628 |
| 1970 | — | — | 33 | #1,492 |
| 1965 | — | — | 47 | #1,092 |
| 1960 | — | — | 52 | #1,082 |
| 1955 | 5 | #6,717 | 26 | #1,537 |
| 1950 | — | — | 28 | #1,392 |
| 1945 | — | — | 29 | #1,248 |
| 1940 | 6 | #4,337 | 27 | #1,310 |
| 1935 | — | — | 24 | #1,420 |
| 1930 | — | — | 28 | #1,398 |
| 1925 | — | — | 20 | #1,803 |
| 1920 | 5 | #5,747 | 24 | #1,590 |
| 1915 | — | — | 16 | #1,875 |
| 1910 | — | — | 6 | #1,586 |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Willy
- Willy Brandt Politician · 1913–1992
- Willy Messerschmitt Engineer · 1898–1978
- Willy van de Kerkhof Soccer player · b. 1951
- Willy DeVille Musician · 1950–2009
- Willy Claes Politician · b. 1938
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Willy in 2025?
Willy ranked #4,041 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 27 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Willy?
4,053 babies have been named Willy in the United States since 1884, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Willy most popular?
Willy peaked in 1993, when 69 newborns received the name.
Is Willy a boy or girl name?
Willy is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 97% of babies with the name.
Is the name Willy rising or falling?
Willy is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Willy?
Well-known people named Willy include Willy Brandt (politician), Willy Messerschmitt (engineer), Willy van de Kerkhof (soccer player).